Single Idea 10698

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 6. Plural Quantification]

Full Idea

Abandon the idea that use of plural forms must always be understood to commit one to the existence of sets of those things to which the corresponding singular forms apply.

Gist of Idea

Plural forms have no more ontological commitment than to first-order objects

Source

George Boolos (To be is to be the value of a variable.. [1984], p.66)

Book Reference

Boolos,George: 'Logic, Logic and Logic' [Harvard 1999], p.66


A Reaction

It seems to be an open question whether plural quantification is first- or second-order, but it looks as if it is a rewriting of the first-order.