What Logics Mean: From Proof Theory to Model-Theoretic Semantics

by James W. Garson

Overview

What do the rules of logic say about the meanings of the symbols they govern? In this book, James W. Garson examines the inferential behaviour of logical connectives (such as 'and', 'or', 'not' and 'if … then'), whose behaviour is defined by strict rules, and proves definitive results concerning exactly what those rules express about connective truth conditions. He explores the ways in which, depending on circumstances, a system of rules may provide no interpretation of a connective at all, or the interpretation we ordinarily expect for it, or an unfamiliar or novel interpretation. He also shows how the novel interpretations thus generated may be used to help analyse philosophical problems such as vagueness and the open future. His book will be valuable for graduates and specialists in logic, philosophy of logic, and philosophy of language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107461536
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/14/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

James W. Garson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Houston. He is the author of Modal Logic for Philosophers, 2nd edition (Cambridge University Press, 2013).

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction to model-theoretic inferentialism; 2. Deductive expression; 3. Local expression; 4. Global expression; 5. Intuitionistic semantics; 6. Conditionals; 7. Disjunction; 8. Negation; 9. Supervaluations and natural semantics; 10. Natural semantics for an open future; 11. The expressive power of sequent calculi; 12. Soundness and completeness for natural semantics; 13. Connections with proof-theoretic semantics; 14. Quantifiers; 15. Natural semantics and vagueness; 16. Modal logic; Summary.