Types, Tableaus, and Gel's God (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781402006043)

Gel's modal ontological argument is the centrepiece of an extensive examination of intensional logic. First, classical type theory is presented semantically, tableau rules for it are introduced, and the Prawitz/Takahashi completeness proof is given. Then modal machinery is added, semantically and through tableau rules, to produce a modified version of Montague/Gallin intensional logic. Extensionality, rigidity, equality, identity, and definite descriptions are investigated. Finally, various ontological proofs for the existence of God are discussed informally, and the Gel argument is fully formalized. Objections to the Gel argument are examined, including one due to Howard Sobel showing Gel's assumptions are so strong that the modal logic collapses. It is shown that this argument depends critically on whether properties are understood intensionally or extensionally.
Parts of the book are mathematical, parts philosophical. A reader interested in (modal) type theory can safelyskip ontological issues, just as one interested in Gel's argument can omit the more mathematical portions, such as the completeness proof for tableaus. There should be something for everybody (and perhaps everything for somebody).

Author: M. Fitting
ISBN-10: 1402006047
ISBN-13: 9781402006043
Publisher: Springer
Language: English
Published: 05/31/2002
Pages: 181
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.01lbs
Size: 9.90h x 6.26w x 0.64d