predicate

Help with the semantics of free variables

12/25/06

Introduction to Free Variables

This video illustrates use of the downloadable application (and the symbol ∧ for 'and' and (∀x) for the universal quantifier, some systems use (x) for this). But, what the film depicts and explains is equally good if you happen to be using the web pages applets (or different symbols for 'and' and the universal quantifier).

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Tutorial 16: Symbolization using the quantifiers

Logical System

Tutorial 16 Symbolization using the quantifiers.

2013

Skill to be acquired in this tutorial:

To learn how to use the Universal and Existential Quantifiers in symbolizing propositions.

The Tutorial

In Predicate Logic there are two new logical connectives, the Universal Quantifier (∀x) and the Existential Quantifier (∃x). These are used for symbolizing certain English constructions (they also have their own rules of inference and their own semantics, which we will learn about later).

Tutorial 14: Some Terminology for the Semantics of Predicate Logic

Logical System
8/4/13

The Tutorial

A few concepts are needed give a simple portrayal of the truth and falsity of predicate logic formulas.

There is the notion of an Interpretation which consists of a Universe together with an account of how the various symbols in the predicate logic formulas apply in this Universe.

There should be a Universe, which is the collection of the objects that the formulas is about. We write, for example,

Universe = {a,b,c}

Review of New Material

Topic
Logical System

Review of new material

A start can be made in predicate logic by taking apart 'atomic' propositions and by re-phrasing what they have to say in a 'entity-has-property' way.

The constant terms a,b,c...h are used to denote entities, the predicates A,B,C...Z are used to denote properties that these entities have, and these are put together by writing the predicate first followed by the term, for example Gb.

Tutorial 11: Sketch of the second part of the course, and symbolizing propositions using predicate logic.

Logical System

2013

Skills to be acquired in this tutorial:

To start learning how to symbolize propositions using predicate logic.

The Tutorial:

There are many valid arguments which cannot be shown to be valid using propositional logic alone. For example,

Beryl is a philosopher.
All philosophers are wise.
Therefore
Beryl is wise.

Symbolize Relations

Logical System

8/26/2012

Thus far we have considered only 'monadic' predicates-- our atomic formulas consist of a predicate followed by only one term-- for example, Fx. But in English we regularly encounter dyadic predicates or relations. For example, 'Arthur is taller than Bert' cannot be symbolized with the tools we have used so far; what is needed is a relation to represent '...is taller than ...' Txy, say, and then the proposition would be symbolized Tab.