A modal view of the semantics of theoretical sentences

Synthese 174 (3):367-383 (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Modal logic has been applied in many different areas, as reasoning about time, knowledge and belief, necessity and possibility, to mention only some examples. In the present paper, an attempt is made to use modal logic to account for the semantics of theoretical sentences in scientific language. Theoretical sentences have been studied extensively since the work of Ramsey and Carnap. The present attempt at a modal analysis is motivated by there being several intended interpretations of the theoretical terms once these terms are introduced through the axioms of a theory.

Other Versions

No versions found

Similar books and articles

Semantics for Logical Necessity.Nino B. Cocchiarella & Max A. Freund - 2008 - In Nino B. Cocchiarella & Max A. Freund, Modal Logic: An Introduction to its Syntax and Semantics. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press USA. pp. 61-70.
On theoretical constructs and Ramsey constants.R. M. Martin - 1966 - Philosophy of Science 33 (1/2):1-13.
Ramsey sentences and the meaning of quantifiers.Jaakko Hintikka - 1998 - Philosophy of Science 65 (2):289-305.
A choice-semantical approach to theoretical truth.Holger Andreas & Georg Schiemer - 2016 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 58:1-8.
From “Theories” to Ramsey Sentences.Kosmas Brousalis & Stathis Psillos - forthcoming - In Pedro Duarte & Cheryl Misak, The Cambridge Companion to Frank Ramsey. Cambridge University Press.
Ockhamism and Quantified Modal Logic.Andrea Iacona - 2015 - Logique Et Analyse 58:353-370.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-02-07

Downloads
386 (#124,024)

6 months
46 (#184,227)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Holger Andreas
University Of British Columbia, Okanagan

References found in this work

Two Dogmas of Empiricism.W. Quine - 1951 - [Longmans, Green].
Two Dogmas of Empiricism.Willard V. O. Quine - 1951 - Philosophical Review 60 (1):20–43.
Pursuit of truth.Willard Van Orman Quine - 1992 - Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
The logical basis of metaphysics.Michael Dummett - 1991 - Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
The Scientific Image.William Demopoulos & Bas C. van Fraassen - 1982 - Philosophical Review 91 (4):603.

View all 41 references / Add more references