Model theory and validity

Authors
Citation
Y. Stephanou, Model theory and validity, SYNTHESE, 123(2), 2000, pp. 165-193
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Philosiphy
Journal title
SYNTHESE
ISSN journal
00397857 → ACNP
Volume
123
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
165 - 193
Database
ISI
SICI code
0039-7857(200005)123:2<165:MTAV>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Take a formula of first-order logic which is a logical consequence of some other formulae according to model theory, and in all those formulae replace schematic letters with English expressions. Is the argument resulting from the replacement valid in the sense that the premisses could not have been true without the conclusion also being true? Can we reason from the model-t heoretic concept of logical consequence to the modal concept of validity? Y es, if the model theory is the standard one for sentential logic; no, if it is the standard one for the predicate calculus; and yes, if it is a certai n model theory for free logic. These conclusions rely inter alia on some as sumptions about possible worlds, which are mapped into the models of model theory. Plural quantification is used in the last section, while part of th e reasoning is relegated to an appendix that includes a proof of completene ss for a version of free logic.