English

Carnapian Frameworks and Categoricity of Arithmetic via Inferential $\omega$-logics

Logic 2026-04-29 v1

Abstract

We provided in \cite{BaldwinBrincusI} extensions of first order logic by modified inferential definitions of the classical ω\omega-rule in 11 or 22 sorts. These logics are categorical in the inferential sense. Arithmetic has a unique countable model in each case, e.g. first order PA is categorical in our first logic. The 2-sorted case interprets Lω1,ωL_{\omega_1,\omega}. In this paper, we discuss two philosophical problems raised by Button and Walsh \cite{ButtonWalshbook} concerting the identification of a unique isomorphism class. First, we argue that the doxological challenge (on referential determinacy) gets a clear answer if placed in an appropriate (Carnapian) linguistic framework and is meaningless otherwise. To clarify this approach, we address Button-Walsh's dismissal of concepts-modelism by developing the notion of {\em cognitive modelism}, according to which classical mathematics is a complex process of constructing and developing a distinctive class of concepts. Second, we argue that the inferential ω\omega-logics, that are much weaker than second order logic, do not appeal to the arithmetical concepts that the categoricity theorems proved within these logics aim to secure.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.24943,
  title  = {Carnapian Frameworks and Categoricity of Arithmetic via Inferential $\omega$-logics},
  author = {John T. Baldwin and Constantin C. Brîncuş},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.24943},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

This is the second half of the split article (arXiv:2602.02854v1). The first half is now the updated version of the initial full article. The first paper (Categoricity for an inferential $\omega$-logic and in $L_{\omega_1,\omega}$) contains the technical results while the present one provides a philosophical discussion of these results