MoL-2018-25: Logical Functionalism

MoL-2018-25: Commandeur, Leon (2018) Logical Functionalism. [Report]

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Abstract

This thesis aims to develop a position called logical functionalism, as an improvement on previous logical pluralist positions. The main idea of logical functionalism is to take logical consequence to be a functional concept. From a pre-theoretic notion of logical consequence, I distil the core features of logical consequence, namely formality, normativity and necessity. Together these core features make up the logical consequence-role. I then show that this role can be performed in multiple di↵erent ways, resulting in di↵erent manifestations of the logical consequence-role and hence di↵erent logical systems. As such, I take logical functionalism as I have presented it here as an enhancement of previous logical pluralist positions. The main problem with the pluralist positions currently on the market I take to be a problematic relation between plurality and generality. This makes that these positions tend to collapse into either the strongest available logical system, or the weakest available system. Some generality therefore appears to be unavoidable, and I argue that logical pluralism needs to provide a satisfactory account of such generality, while at the same time retain the pluralist spirit of a multiplicity of equally correct logical systems. Logical functionalism, I maintain, provides such a satisfactory account. A non-problematic account of generality, that does not allow for a collapse into monism, can be found in the logical consequence-role, while the plurality can be found in the multiple di↵erent manifestations of this role.

Item Type: Report
Report Nr: MoL-2018-25
Series Name: Master of Logic Thesis (MoL) Series
Year: 2018
Subjects: Logic
Philosophy
Depositing User: Dr Marco Vervoort
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2018 12:12
Last Modified: 18 Oct 2018 14:57
URI: https://eprints.illc.uva.nl/id/eprint/1639

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