X-2025-04: Dekker, Paul (2025) Talk about things non-existent. [Report]
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Abstract
In order to make sense of talk about things non-existent philosophers and linguists tend to construe them as things more than as non-existent. The temptation to do so is obviously strong, but it also appears wrong. This note provides a constructive argument that we can resist this temptation. It presents a simple formal language, with a proof theory, showing that we can make sense of talk about things non-existent without granting them existence.
| Item Type: | Report |
|---|---|
| Report Nr: | X-2025-04 |
| Series Name: | Technical Notes (X) Series |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Non-existent objects, conceptually grounded quantification, first order modal proof theory |
| Subjects: | Language Logic Philosophy |
| Depositing User: | Paul Dekker |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2025 08:11 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2025 08:11 |
| URI: | https://eprints.illc.uva.nl/id/eprint/2370 |
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