Ramsey sentence theorem (two-sorted)
From time to time I'd like to post on the topic of Ramsey sentence structuralism. This post describes a result concerning the truth conditions of Ramsey sentences. It is one way of trying to make precise the Newman objection to Ramsey sentence structuralism about scientific theories (originally going back to Newman 1928 and Demopoulos & Friedman 1985) and summarizes the main idea, and the main result (Theorem 6) from a 2004 BJPS paper "Empirical adequacy and ramsification".
1. Syntax
Suppose is a two-sorted first-order language, with variables partitioned into what one might call primary and secondary variables (following the terminology of Burgess & Rosen 1997).
The primary sublanguage, obtained by deleting secondary variables and any secondary and mixed predicates is called .
Let be the result of adding primary, mixed and secondary second-order variables or all arities (and corresponding atomic formulas of the right kind) to .
Let be the primary restriction of this language (obtained by eliminating secondary variables).
Finally, let be the sublanguage of obtained by eliminating all non-logical mixed and secondary predicates.
The language is a two-sorted rendition of the mature Carnapian "observational language": it allows observational predicates, and first-order observational variables; in addition, it has first-order variables ranging over unobservable objects; and it has primary, mixed and secondary second-order variables, giving what amounts to a general theory of sets of, and relations amongst, the first-order entities (either observable or unobservable). In principle, one could add third-order, fourth-order, etc., variables, giving type hierarchy. It makes no difference to the result below.
2. Semantics
If is an two-sorted -structure, the primary domain is called and the secondary domain is called .
Furthermore, the reduct of to the primary part (i.e., just the primary domain and the distinguished relations on the primary domain) is called .
Let be any full -structure. So, is an interpreted language, and is the interpreted primary language.
Any full -structure can be regarded as an -structure , by just forgetting the secondary and mixed relations, but not the secondary domain. So, is the interpreted "Carnapian" language.
3. Ramsey sentence
Suppose is a finitely axiomatized theory in containing precisely the mixed predicates and the secondary predicates . Then the Ramsey sentence of , written , is:
are replaced by second-order variables (of the right arities) and the secondary predicates are replaced by second-order variables (of the right arities): we say that the mixed and secondary predicates have been "ramsified".
Note that is a sentence of the language , the Carnapian "observational" language, which has first-order variables ranging over observable and unobservable objects, and it has second-order variables ranging over all sets and relations amongst these.
4. Ramsey sentence theorem
Let be a full -structure. Thus, is the corresponding interpreted "Carnapian" language. The Ramsey sentence is a sentence in this language.
1. Syntax
Suppose
The primary sublanguage, obtained by deleting secondary variables and any secondary and mixed predicates is called
Let
Let
Finally, let
The language
2. Semantics
If
Furthermore, the reduct of
Let
Any full
3. Ramsey sentence
Suppose
where the mixed predicates
Note that
4. Ramsey sentence theorem
Let
is true in
iff
there is a full-structure such that
i.;
ii.;
iii..
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