The problem of existential import (From George Boole to P. F. Strawson) (Q2537097)

In contemporary logical theories, a striking feature which marks modern symbolic logic from the logic in the Aristotelian tradition is the problem of existential import of universal categorical, propositions. In the Aristotelian tradition, in a universal proposition, the class denoted by the subject term is implicitly assumed to have members. On the other hand, in modern logic, the universal propositions are interpreted as non-existential in the sense that the class denoted by the subject term do not have members. In traditional logic, this problem was never raised. This problem has emerged only after the rise of mathematical logic. The main purpose of this paper is to give an expository account of the historical development of the problem of existential import in recent logical theories, from George Boole, Brentano, Venn, Peirce, Northrop, Maccoll, Russell, to P. M. Strawson. The author's standpoint is neither on the traditional side nor on the side of modern symbolic logic. He points out that this problem is not yet settled philosophically. The major difficulty lies in the gap between logic as pure abstraction and logic as a method applied to existence or human experience. This is a problem in philosophy of logic as well as philosophy of mathematics. The author has not formulated any solution to this problem. Nevertheless, he has pointed out that the solution to this problem presupposes an adequate view of the relation between logical forms and existence. This awaits the effort of future scholars in philosophy of logic.