Re: Readings in (some of the) foundations of mathematics --- tree of knowledge

On 03/07/2026 18:23, olcott wrote:
> On 7/3/2026 3:41 AM, Mikko wrote:
>> On 02/07/2026 17:45, olcott wrote:
>>> On 7/2/2026 1:44 AM, Mikko wrote:
>>>> That depends on the semantic system. Often the meaning of the word
>>>> "cat" indeed involves that what is called a "cat" is also called
>>>> an "animal" but there are other posiibilities. Conseqently, the
>>>> sentence "cats are animals" can be a semantic tautology that tells
>>>> nothing about the real world, 
>>>
>>> It tells us exactly one thing about the real world 1 != 0
>>
>> A tautology tells nothing about the real world. Sometimes one can
>> have a false impression that something is said about the real world
>> when a tautology is presented. But that impression is a consequence
>> of insufficient or invalid consideration of logic and semantics.
>>
> Stipulative definition of relations between finite
> strings is the only way that these finite strings
> acquire semantic meaning.

For some kind of formal semantics where the meaning of a fintite
string is another finite string (or perhaps, in some cases, the
same). That way does not get any real world semantics, though
it can extend real world semantics if you already have some.

> Try to find some other way that "cats" <are> "animals"
> can acquire semantic meaning besides Davidson Semantics.

They come from experiences about uses of those words by other people.
Likewise for most of commonly used words and phrases.

-- 
Mikko