[Inquiry] Re: Introduction to Inquiry Driven Systems

[Jon Awbrey]

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INTRO.  Note 30

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3.2.  Toward a Functional Conception of Quantificational Logic

Up till now quantification theory has been based on the assumption of
individual variables ranging over universal collections of perfectly
determinate elements.  Merely to write down quantified formulas like
"<For All>_<x in X> F(x)" and "<For Some>_<x in X> F(x)" involves a
subscription to such notions, as shown by the membership relations
invoked in their indices.  Reflected on pragmatic and constructive
principles, however, these ideas begin to appear as problematic
hypotheses whose warrants are not beyond question, projects of
exhaustive determination that overreach the powers of finite
information and control to manage.  Therefore, it is worth
considering how we might shift the scene of quantification
theory closer to familiar ground, toward the predicates
themselves that represent our continuing acquaintance
with phenomena.

Jon Awbrey

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inquiry e-lab: http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/
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