Forgotten and neglected solutions of problems in philosophical logic (Q2702291)

This paper presents some ancient and medieval philosophical problems, and through their logical reconstruction, shows how they were once solved in ways that seem strikingly modern. The questions considered are (1) whether Being is a highest kind (Aristotle's answer: No); (2) how to resolve the Liar paradox (Paulus Venetus' answer: Revise the `Tarski' biconditional); (3) how to give a non-modal characterization of intensional inclusion (an Aristotelian answer: \(a\) is intensionally included in \(b\) iff for all \(Z\) if \(a\) is (extensionally) included in \(Z\) then \(b\) is included in \(Z\)); (4) to discern relevance in syllogistic (a valid implication \(\alpha\to \beta\) is relevant iff there is no propositional variable or predicate which occurs in \(\beta\) that does not occur in \(\alpha\). This rules out irrelevant such theses as \(p\to p\vee q\), which might have value in analyzing various paradoxes in deontic logic, value theory, epistemic logic, confirmation, etc.); (5) how weaker logics, especially intuitionistic logic with its rejection of tertium non datur, an be applied to philosophical texts, notably Anselm's ontological argument, which to reach its desired conclusion requires \(tnd\); and (6) is there a valid form for the practical syllogism? (No, according to the author).NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0946.00016].