Related papers: The Potential in Frege's Theorem
We define an extension of predicate logic, called Binding Logic, where variables can be bound in terms and in propositions. We introduce a notion of model for this logic and prove a soundness and completeness theorem for it. This theorem is…
Sequential propositional logic deviates from ordinary propositional logic by taking into account that during the sequential evaluation of a propositional statement,atomic propositions may yield different Boolean values at repeated…
The first-order theory of MALL (multiplicative, additive linear logic) over only equalities is an interesting but weak logic since it cannot capture unbounded (infinite) behavior. Instead of accounting for unbounded behavior via the…
Transfinite set theory including the axiom of choice supplies the following basic theorems: (1) Mappings between infinite sets can always be completed, such that at least one of the sets is exhausted. (2) The real numbers can be well…
In the context of $\mathsf{ZF}$, we analyze a version of Hindman's finite unions theorem on infinite sets, which normally requires the Axiom of Choice to be proved. We establish the implication relations between this statement and various…
We investigate how much type theory is able to prove about the natural numbers. A classical result in this area shows that dependent type theory without any universes is conservative over Heyting Arithmetic (HA). We build on this result by…
Nonmonotonic logics are usually characterized by the presence of some notion of 'conditional' that fails monotonicity. Research on nonmonotonic logics is therefore largely concerned with the defeasibility of argument forms and the…
It is a widespread belief that results like G\"odel's incompleteness theorems or the intrinsic randomness of quantum mechanics represent fundamental limitations to humanity's strive for scientific knowledge. As the argument goes, there are…
It is argued that quantum mechanics follows naturally from the assumptions that there are no fundamental causal laws but only probabilities for physical processes that are constrained by symmetries, and reality is relational in the sense…
All sciences need and many arts apply mathematics whereas mathematics seems to be independent of all of them, but only based upon logic. This conservative concept, however, needs to be revised because, contrary to Platonic idealism…
Although Quantum field theory has been very successful in explaining experiment, there are two aspects of the theory that remain quite troubling. One is the no-interaction result proved in Haag's theorem. The other is the existence of…
We recently described a formalism for reasoning with if-then rules that re expressed with different levels of firmness [18]. The formalism interprets these rules as extreme conditional probability statements, specifying orders of magnitude…
We discuss views about whether the universe can be rationally comprehended, starting with Plato, then Leibniz, and then the views of some distinguished scientists of the previous century. Based on this, we defend the thesis that…
We examine Paul Halmos' comments on category theory, Dedekind cuts, devil worship, logic, and Robinson's infinitesimals. Halmos' scepticism about category theory derives from his philosophical position of naive set-theoretic realism. In the…
Fine's influential Canonicity Theorem states that if a modal logic is determined by a first-order definable class of Kripke frames, then it is valid in its canonical frames. This article reviews the background and context of this result,…
Continuity is one of the most central notions in mathematics, physics, and computer science. An interesting associated topic is decompositions of continuity, where continuity is shown to be equivalent to the combination of two or more weak…
A new elementary proof of the prime number theorem presented recently in the framework of a scale invariant extension of the ordinary analysis is re-examined and clarified further. Both the formalism and proof are presented in a much more…
The chapter advances a reformulation of the classical problem of the nature of mathematical objects (if any), here called "Plato's problem," in line with the program of a philosophy of mathematical practice. It then provides a sketch of a…
In a recent historical overview, Cristian S. Calude, Elena Calude, and Solomon Marcus identify eight stages in the development of the concept of a mathematical proof in support of an ambitious conjecture: we can express classical…
By limiting the range of the predicate variables in a second-order language one may obtain restricted versions of second-order logic such as weak second-order logic or definable subset logic. In this note we provide an infinitary strongly…