What are the Formulas of a Logic?

The article critiques the standard view of logical formulas, which equates them with specific strings of symbol types, arguing that this perspective is flawed due to issues of arbitrariness, the impracticality of large symbol sets, and the existence of mixed formulas that combine symbols and sets. I...

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Publicado en:Erkenntnis Vol. 91; no. 3; pp. 1371 - 1387
Autor principal: Paseau, A. C.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Springer Nature Mar2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: What are the Formulas of a Logic?
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        au: Paseau, A. C.
        affil: https://ror.org/052gg0110 University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
      su:
        Logic
        Structuralism
        Formal languages
        Ontology
        Nominalism
        Mathematical formulas
        Philosophy of mathematics
      sug:
        subj:
          Logic
          Structuralism
          Formal languages
          Ontology
          Nominalism
          Mathematical formulas
          Philosophy of mathematics
      ab: The article critiques the standard view of logical formulas, which equates them with specific strings of symbol types, arguing that this perspective is flawed due to issues of arbitrariness, the impracticality of large symbol sets, and the existence of mixed formulas that combine symbols and sets. It proposes a structuralist view, suggesting that formulas should be understood in terms of their relational roles rather than as fixed entities. This shift allows for a more flexible understanding of logical languages, accommodating various representations and addressing philosophical debates, particularly around nominalism in mathematics. The author concludes that while the mathematical practice remains unchanged, the structuralist perspective offers a more accurate ontological framework for understanding logical formulas.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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