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Singular terms revisited

Robert Schwartzkopff

pp. 909-936

Abstract

Neo-Fregeans take their argument for arithmetical realism to depend on the availability of certain, so-called broadly syntactic tests for whether a given expression functions as a singular term. The broadly syntactic tests proposed in the neo-Fregean tradition are the so-called inferential test and the Aristotelian test. If these tests are to subserve the neo-Fregean argument, they must be at least adequate, in the sense of correctly classifying paradigm cases of singular terms and non-singular terms. In this paper, I pursue two main goals. On the one hand, I show that the tests’ current state-of-the-art formulations are inadequate and, hence, cannot subserve the neo-Fregean argument. On the other hand, I propose revisions that are adequate and, hence, can subserve this argument.

Publication details

Published in:

Ågotnes Thomas, Bonanno Giacomo, van der Hoek Wiebe (2016) Logic and the foundations of game and decision theory. Synthese 193 (3).

Pages: 909-936

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-015-0777-2

Full citation:

Schwartzkopff Robert (2016) „Singular terms revisited“. Synthese 193 (3), 909–936.