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| In the next few installments, I will be working toward the definition of an operation called the ''stretch''. This is related to the concept from category theory that is called a ''pullback''. As a few will know the uses of that already, maybe there's hope of stretching the number. | | In the next few installments, I will be working toward the definition of an operation called the ''stretch''. This is related to the concept from category theory that is called a ''pullback''. As a few will know the uses of that already, maybe there's hope of stretching the number. |
| + | |
| + | <pre> |
| + | Where are we? We just defined the concept of a functional fiber in several |
| + | of the most excruciating ways possible, but that's just because this method |
| + | of refining functional fibers is intended partly for machine consumputation, |
| + | so its schemata must be rendered free of all admixture of animate intuition. |
| + | However, just between us, a single picture may suffice to sum up the notion: |
| + | |
| + | o-------------------------------------------------o |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` X-[| f |] , `[| f |]` ` `c` ` X ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` o ` ` ` o ` o ` o ` o ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` `\` ` `/` ` `\` | `/` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` \ ` / ` ` ` \ | / ` ` ` ` ` | f ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` `\`/` ` ` ` `\|/` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` o ` ` ` ` ` o ` ` ` ` ` ` v ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` { `%0%` ` , ` `%1%` } ` `=` `%B%` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | o-------------------------------------------------o |
| + | |
| + | Why are we doing this? The immediate reason -- whose critique I defer -- |
| + | has to do with finding a modus vivendi, whether a working compromise or |
| + | a genuine integration, between the assertive-declarative languages and |
| + | the functional-procedural languages that we have available for the sake |
| + | of conceptual-logical-ontological analysis, clarification, description, |
| + | inference, problem-solving, programming, representation, or whatever. |
| + | |
| + | In the next few installments, I will be working toward the definition |
| + | of an operation called the "stretch". This is related to the concept |
| + | from category theory that is called a "pullback". As a few will know |
| + | the uses of that already, maybe there's hope of stretching the number. |
| + | </pre> |
| + | |
| + | ==Empirical Types and Rational Types== |
| + | |
| + | <pre> |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | IDS -- RT |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Recurring Themes |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | Resource: Inquiry Driven Systems: An Inquiry Into Inquiry |
| + | Creation: 23 Jun 1996 |
| + | Revision: 16 Dec 2001 |
| + | Location: http://members.door.net/arisbe/menu/library/aboutcsp/awbrey/inquiry.htm |
| + | |
| + | Outline of Excerpt |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.3. Propositions and Sentences |
| + | 1.3.10.4. Empirical Types and Rational Types |
| + | 1.3.10.5. Articulate Sentences |
| + | 1.3.10.6. Stretching Principles |
| + | 1.3.10.7. Stretching Operations |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 8 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.4. Empirical Types and Rational Types |
| + | |
| + | I make a brief detour to explain what are likely to be |
| + | the unfamiliar features of my definition of a sentence. |
| + | |
| + | In this Subsection, I want to examine the style of definition that I used |
| + | to define a sentence as a type of sign, to adapt its application to other |
| + | problems of defining types, and to draw a lesson of general significance. |
| + | |
| + | Notice that I am defining a sentence in terms of what it denotes, and not |
| + | in terms of its structure as a sign. In this way of reckoning, a sign is |
| + | not a sentence on account of any property that it has in itself, but only |
| + | due to the sign relation that actually works to interpret it. This makes |
| + | the property of being a sentence a question of actualities and contingent |
| + | relations, not merely a question of potentialities and absolute categories. |
| + | This does nothing to alter the level of interest that one is bound to have |
| + | in the structures of signs, it merely shifts the axis of the question from |
| + | the logical plane of definition to the pragmatic plane of effective action. |
| + | As a practical matter, of course, some signs are better for a given purpose |
| + | than others, more conducive to a particular result than others, and turn out |
| + | to be more effective in achieving an assigned objective than others, and the |
| + | reasons for this are at least partly explained by the relationships that can |
| + | be found to exist among a sign's structure, its object, and the sign relation |
| + | that fits the sign and its object to each other. |
| + | |
| + | Notice the general character of this development. I start by |
| + | defining a type of sign according to the type of object that it |
| + | happens to denote, ignoring at first the structural potential that |
| + | it brings to the task. According to this mode of definition, a type |
| + | of sign is singled out from other signs in terms of the type of object |
| + | that it actually denotes and not according to the type of object that it |
| + | is designed or destined to denote, nor in terms of the type of structure |
| + | that it possesses in itself. This puts the empirical categories, the |
| + | classes based on actualities, at odds with the rational categories, |
| + | the classes based on intentionalities. In hopes that this much |
| + | explanation is enough to rationalize the account of types that |
| + | I am using, I break off the digression at this point and |
| + | return to the main discussion. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 9 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.5. Articulate Sentences |
| + | |
| + | A sentence is called "articulate" if: |
| + | |
| + | 1. It has a significant form, a compound construction, |
| + | a multi-part constitution, a well-developed composition, |
| + | or a non-trivial structure as a sign. |
| + | |
| + | 2. There is an informative relationship that exists |
| + | between its structure as a sign and the content |
| + | of the proposition that it happens to denote. |
| + | |
| + | A sentence of the articulate kind is typically given in the form of |
| + | a "description", an "expression", or a "formula", in other words, as |
| + | an articulated sign or a well-structured element of a formal language. |
| + | As a general rule, the category of sentences that one will be willing to |
| + | contemplate is compiled from a particular selection of complex signs and |
| + | syntactic strings, those that are assembled from the basic building blocks |
| + | of a formal language and held in especial esteem for the roles that they |
| + | play within its grammar. Still, even if the typical sentence is a sign |
| + | that is generated by a formal regimen, having its form, its meaning, |
| + | and its use governed by the principles of a comprehensive grammar, |
| + | the class of sentences that one has a mind to contemplate can also |
| + | include among its number many other signs of an arbitrary nature. |
| + | |
| + | Frequently this "formula" has a "variable" in it that "ranges over" the |
| + | universe X. A "variable" is an ambiguous or equivocal sign that can be |
| + | interpreted as denoting any element of the set that it "ranges over". |
| + | |
| + | If a sentence denotes a proposition f : X -> %B%, then the "value" of the |
| + | sentence with regard to x in X is the value f(x) of the proposition at x, |
| + | where "%0%" is interpreted as "false" and "%1%" is interpreted as "true". |
| + | |
| + | Since the value of a sentence or a proposition depends on the universe of discourse |
| + | to which it is "referred", and since it also depends on the element of the universe |
| + | with regard to which it is evaluated, it is conventional to say that a sentence or |
| + | a proposition "refers" to a universe of discourse and to its elements, though often |
| + | in a variety of different senses. Furthermore, a proposition, acting in the guise |
| + | of an indicator function, "refers" to the elements that it "indicates", namely, the |
| + | elements on which it takes a positive value. In order to sort out the potential |
| + | confusions that are capable of arising here, I need to examine how these various |
| + | notions of reference are related to the notion of denotation that is used in the |
| + | pragmatic theory of sign relations. |
| + | |
| + | One way to resolve the various and sundry senses of "reference" that arise |
| + | in this setting is to make the following brands of distinctions among them: |
| + | |
| + | 1. Let the reference of a sentence or a proposition to a universe of discourse, |
| + | the one that it acquires by way of taking on any interpretation at all, be |
| + | taken as its "general reference", the kind of reference that one can safely |
| + | ignore as irrelevant, at least, so long as one stays immersed in only one |
| + | context of discourse or only one moment of discussion. |
| + | |
| + | 2. Let the references that an indicator function f has to the elements |
| + | on which it evaluates to %0% be called its "negative references". |
| + | |
| + | 3. Let the references that an indicator function f has to the elements |
| + | on which it evaluates to %1% be called its "positive references" |
| + | or its "indications". |
| + | |
| + | Finally, unspecified references to the "references" of a sentence, |
| + | a proposition, or an indicator function can be taken by default |
| + | as references to their specific, positive references. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 10 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.5. Articulate Sentences (concl.) |
| + | |
| + | I conclude my pragmatic semiotic treatment of the relation between |
| + | a sentence (a logical sign) and a proposition (a logical object). |
| + | |
| + | The universe of discourse for a sentence, the set whose elements the |
| + | sentence is interpreted to be about, is not a property of the sentence |
| + | by itself, but of the sentence in the presence of its interpretation. |
| + | Independently of how many explicit variables a sentence contains, its |
| + | value can always be interpreted as depending on any number of implicit |
| + | variables. For instance, even a sentence with no explicit variable, |
| + | a constant expression like "%0%" or "%1%", can be taken to denote |
| + | a constant proposition of the form c : X -> %B%. Whether or not it |
| + | has an explicit variable, I always take a sentence as referring to |
| + | a proposition, one whose values refer to elements of a universe X. |
| + | |
| + | Notice that the letters "p" and "q", interpreted as signs that denote |
| + | the indicator functions p, q : X -> %B%, have the character of sentences |
| + | in relation to propositions, at least, they have the same status in this |
| + | abstract discussion as genuine sentences have in concrete applications. |
| + | This illustrates the relation between sentences and propositions as |
| + | a special case of the relation between signs and objects. |
| + | |
| + | To assist the reading of informal examples, I frequently use the letters |
| + | "t", "u", "v", "z" to denote sentences. Thus, it is conceivable to have |
| + | a situation where z = "q" and where q : X -> %B%. Altogether, this means |
| + | that the sign "z" denotes the sentence z, that the sentence z is the same |
| + | thing as the sentence "q", and that the sentence "q" denotes the proposition, |
| + | characteristic function, or indicator function q : X -> %B%. In settings where |
| + | it is necessary to keep track of a large number of sentences, I use subscripted |
| + | letters like "e_1", ..., "e_n" to refer to the various expressions in question. |
| + | |
| + | A "sentential connective" is a sign, a coordinated sequence of signs, |
| + | a syntactic pattern of contextual arrangement, or any other syntactic |
| + | device that can be used to connect a number of sentences together in |
| + | order to form a single sentence. If k is the number of sentences that |
| + | are thereby connected, then the connective is said to be of "order k". |
| + | If the sentences acquire a logical relationship through this mechanism, |
| + | and are not just strung together by this device, then the connective |
| + | is called a "logical connective". If the value of the constructed |
| + | sentence depends on the values of the component sentences in such |
| + | a way that the value of the whole is a boolean function of the |
| + | values of the parts, then the connective earns the title of |
| + | a "propositional connective". |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 11 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.6. Stretching Principles |
| + | |
| + | We are in the home stretch of what I promised to bring home this time around. |
| + | Let me set up the play by bringing back to mind a deuce of basic definitions |
| + | from earlier in the game: |
| + | |
| + | A "boolean connection" of degree k, also known as a "boolean function" |
| + | on k variables, is a map of the form F : %B%^k -> %B%. In other words, |
| + | a boolean connection of degree k is a proposition about things in the |
| + | universe of discourse X = %B%^k. |
| + | |
| + | An "imagination" of degree k on X is a k-tuple of propositions about things |
| + | in the universe X. By way of displaying the various brands of notation that |
| + | are used to express this idea, the imagination #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k> is given |
| + | as a sequence of indicator functions f_j : X -> %B%, for j = 1 to k. All of |
| + | these features of the typical imagination #f# can be summed up in either one |
| + | of two ways: either in the form of a membership statement, to the effect that |
| + | #f# is in (X -> %B%)^k, or in the form of a type statement, to the effect that |
| + | #f# : (X -> %B%)^k, though perhaps the latter form is slightly more precise than |
| + | the former. |
| + | |
| + | The purpose of this exercise is to illuminate how a sentence, |
| + | a sign constituted as a string of characters, can be enfused |
| + | with a proposition, an object of no slight abstraction, in a |
| + | way that can speak about an external universe of discourse X. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 12 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.6. Stretching Principles (cont.) |
| + | |
| + | There is a principle, of constant use in this work, that needs to be made explicit. |
| + | In order to give it a name, I refer to this idea as the "stretching principle". |
| + | Expressed in different ways, it says that: |
| + | |
| + | 1. Any relation of values extends to a relation of what is valued. |
| + | |
| + | 2. Any statement about values says something about the things |
| + | that are given these values. |
| + | |
| + | 3. Any association among a range of values establishes |
| + | an association among the domains of things |
| + | that these values are the values of. |
| + | |
| + | 4. Any connection between two values can be stretched to create a connection, |
| + | of analogous form, between the objects, persons, qualities, or relationships |
| + | that are valued in these connections. |
| + | |
| + | 5. For every operation on values, there is a corresponding operation on the actions, |
| + | conducts, functions, procedures, or processes that lead to these values, as well |
| + | as there being analogous operations on the objects that instigate all of these |
| + | various proceedings. |
| + | |
| + | Nothing about the application of the stretching principle guarantees that |
| + | the analogues it generates will be as useful as the material it works on. |
| + | It is another question entirely whether the links that are forged in this |
| + | fashion are equal in their strength and apposite in their bearing to the |
| + | tried and true utilities of the original ties, but in principle they |
| + | are always there. |
| + | |
| + | In particular, a connection F : %B%^k -> %B% can be understood to |
| + | indicate a relation among boolean values, namely, the k-ary relation |
| + | L = F^(-1)(%1%) c %B%^k. If these k values are values of things in a |
| + | universe X, that is, if one imagines each value in a k-tuple of values |
| + | to be the functional image that results from evaluating an element of X |
| + | under one of its possible aspects of value, then one has in mind the |
| + | k propositions f_j : X -> %B%, for j = 1 to k, in sum, one embodies |
| + | the imagination #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k>. Together, the imagination |
| + | #f# in (X -> %B%)^k and the connection F : %B%^k -> %B% stretch |
| + | each other to cover the universe X, yielding a new proposition |
| + | q : X -> %B%. |
| + | |
| + | To encapsulate the form of this general result, I define a scheme of composition |
| + | that takes an imagination #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k> in (X -> %B%)^k and a boolean |
| + | connection F : %B%^k -> %B% and gives a proposition q : X -> %B%. Depending |
| + | on the situation, specifically, according to whether many F and many #f#, |
| + | a single F and many #f#, or many F and a single #f# are being considered, |
| + | I refer to the resultant q under one of three descriptions, respectively: |
| + | |
| + | 1. In a general setting, where the connection F and the imagination #f# |
| + | are both permitted to take up a variety of concrete possibilities, |
| + | call q the "stretch of F and #f# from X to %B%", and write it in |
| + | the style of a composition as "F $ #f#". This is meant to suggest |
| + | that the symbol "$", here read as "stretch", denotes an operator |
| + | of the form $ : (%B%^k -> %B%) x (X -> %B%)^k -> (X -> %B%). |
| + | |
| + | 2. In a setting where the connection F is fixed but the imagination #f# |
| + | is allowed to vary over a wide range of possibilities, call q the |
| + | "stretch of F to #f# on X", and write it in the style "F^$ #f#", |
| + | as if "F^$" denotes an operator F^$ : (X -> %B%)^k -> (X -> %B%) |
| + | that is derived from F and applied to #f#, ultimately yielding |
| + | a proposition F^$ #f# : X -> %B%. |
| + | |
| + | 3. In a setting where the imagination #f# is fixed but the connection F |
| + | is allowed to range over a wide variety of possibilities, call q the |
| + | "stretch of #f# by F to %B%", and write it in the fashion "#f#^$ F", |
| + | as if "#f#^$" denotes an operator #f#^$ : (%B%^k -> %B%) -> (X -> %B%) |
| + | that is derived from #f# and applied to F, ultimately yielding |
| + | a proposition #f#^$ F : X -> %B%. |
| + | |
| + | Because the stretch notation is used only in settings |
| + | where the imagination #f# : (X -> %B%)^k and the |
| + | connection F : %B%^k -> %B% are distinguished |
| + | by their types, it does not really matter |
| + | whether one writes "F $ #f#" or "#f# $ F" |
| + | for the initial form of composition. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 13 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.6. Stretching Principles (concl.) |
| + | |
| + | To complete the general discussion of stretching principles, |
| + | we will need to call back to mind the following definitions: |
| + | |
| + | The "play of images" that is determined by #f# and x, more specifically, |
| + | the play of the imagination #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k> that has to with the |
| + | element x in X, is the k-tuple #b# = <b_1, ..., b_k> of values in %B% |
| + | that satisfies the equations b_j = f_j (x), for all j = 1 to k. |
| + | |
| + | A "projection" of %B%^k, typically denoted by "p_j" or "pr_j", |
| + | is one of the maps p_j : %B%^k -> %B%, for j = 1 to k, that is |
| + | defined as follows: |
| + | |
| + | If #b# = <b_1, ..., b_k> in %B%^k, |
| + | |
| + | then p_j (#b#) = p_j (<b_1, ..., b_k>) = b_j in %B%. |
| + | |
| + | The "projective imagination" of %B%^k is the imagination <p_1, ..., p_k>. |
| + | |
| + | Just as a sentence is a sign that denotes a proposition, |
| + | which thereby serves to indicate a set, a propositional |
| + | connective is a provision of syntax whose mediate effect |
| + | is to denote an operation on propositions, which thereby |
| + | manages to indicate the result of an operation on sets. |
| + | In order to see how these compound forms of indication |
| + | can be defined, it is useful to go through the steps |
| + | that are needed to construct them. In general terms, |
| + | the ingredients of the construction are as follows: |
| + | |
| + | 1. An imagination of degree k on X, in other words, a k-tuple |
| + | of propositions f_j : X -> %B%, for j = 1 to k, or an object |
| + | of the form #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k> : (X -> %B%)^k. |
| + | |
| + | 2. A connection of degree k, in other words, a proposition |
| + | about things in %B%^k, or a boolean function of the form |
| + | F : %B%^k -> %B%. |
| + | |
| + | From this 2-ply of material, it is required to construct a proposition |
| + | q : X -> %B% such that q(x) = F(f_1(x), ..., f_k(x)), for all x in X. |
| + | The desired construction is determined as follows: |
| + | |
| + | The cartesian power %B%^k, as a cartesian product, is characterized |
| + | by the possession of a "projective imagination" #p# = <p_1, ..., p_k> |
| + | of degree k on %B%^k, along with the property that any imagination |
| + | #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k> of degree k on an arbitrary set W determines |
| + | a unique map !f! : W -> %B%^k, the play of whose projective images |
| + | <p_1(!f!(w)), ..., p_k(!f!(w))> on the functional image !f!(w) matches |
| + | the play of images <f_1(w), ..., f_k(w)> under #f#, term for term and |
| + | at every element w in W. |
| + | |
| + | Just to be on the safe side, I state this again in more standard terms. |
| + | The cartesian power %B%^k, as a cartesian product, is characterized by |
| + | the possession of k projection maps p_j : %B%^k -> %B%, for j = 1 to k, |
| + | along with the property that any k maps f_j : W -> %B%, from an arbitrary |
| + | set W to %B%, determine a unique map !f! : W -> %B%^k satisfying the system |
| + | of equations p_j(!f!(w)) = f_j(w), for all j = 1 to k, and for all w in W. |
| + | |
| + | Now suppose that the arbitrary set W in this construction is just |
| + | the relevant universe X. Given that the function !f! : X -> %B%^k |
| + | is uniquely determined by the imagination #f# : (X -> %B%)^k, or what |
| + | is the same thing, by the k-tuple of propositions #f# = <f_1, ..., f_k>, |
| + | it is safe to identify !f! and #f# as being a single function, and this |
| + | makes it convenient on many occasions to refer to the identified function |
| + | by means of its explicitly descriptive name "<f_1, ..., f_k>". This facility |
| + | of address is especially appropriate whenever a concrete term or a constructive |
| + | precision is demanded by the context of discussion. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 14 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.7. Stretching Operations |
| + | |
| + | The preceding discussion of stretch operations is slightly more general |
| + | than is called for in the present context, and so it is probably a good |
| + | idea to draw out the particular implications that are needed right away. |
| + | |
| + | If F : %B%^k -> %B% is a boolean function on k variables, then it is possible |
| + | to define a mapping F^$ : (X -> %B%)^k -> (X -> %B%), in effect, an operation |
| + | that takes k propositions into a single proposition, where F^$ satisfies the |
| + | following conditions: |
| + | |
| + | F^$ (f_1, ..., f_k) : X -> %B% |
| + | |
| + | such that: |
| + | |
| + | F^$ (f_1, ..., f_k)(x) |
| + | |
| + | = F(#f#(x)) |
| + | |
| + | = F(<f_1, ..., f_k>(x)) |
| + | |
| + | = F(f_1(x), ..., f_k(x)). |
| + | |
| + | Thus, F^$ is just the sort of entity that a propositional connective denotes, |
| + | a particular way of connecting the propositions that are denoted by a number |
| + | of sentences into a proposition that is denoted by a single sentence. |
| + | |
| + | Now "f_X" is sign that denotes the proposition f_X, |
| + | and it certainly seems like a sufficient sign for it. |
| + | Why would we need to recognize any other signs of it? |
| + | |
| + | If one takes a sentence as a type of sign that denotes a proposition and |
| + | a proposition as a type of function whose values serve to indicate a set, |
| + | then one needs a way to grasp the overall relation between the sentence |
| + | and the set as taking place within a "higher order" (HO) sign relation. |
| + | |
| + | Sketched very roughly, the relationships of denotation and indication that exist |
| + | among sets, propositions, sentences, and values can be diagrammed as in Table 10. |
| + | |
| + | Table 10. Levels of Indication |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | | Object` ` ` ` ` ` | Sign` ` ` ` ` ` ` | Higher Order Sign | |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | Set ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | Proposition ` ` ` | Sentence` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | f^(-1)(b) ` ` ` ` | f ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | "f" ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | Q ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | %1% ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | "%1%" ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | X-Q ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | %0% ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | "%0%" ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | |
| + | Strictly speaking, propositions are too abstract to be signs, hence the |
| + | contents of Table 10 have to be taken with the indicated grains of salt. |
| + | Propositions, as indicator functions, are abstract mathematical objects, |
| + | not any kinds of syntactic elements, thus propositions cannot literally |
| + | constitute the orders of concrete signs that remain of ultimate interest |
| + | in the pragmatic theory of signs, or in any theory of effective meaning. |
| + | |
| + | Therefore, it needs to be understood that a proposition f can be said |
| + | to "indicate" the set Q only insofar as the values of %1% and %0% that |
| + | it assigns to the elements of the universe X are positive and negative |
| + | indications, respectively, of the elements in Q, and thus indications |
| + | of the set Q and of its complement ~X = X - Q, respectively. It is |
| + | these logical values, when rendered by a concrete implementation of |
| + | the indicator function f, that are the actual signs of the objects |
| + | inside the set Q and the objects outside the set Q, respectively. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | RT. Note 15 |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | |
| + | 1.3.10.7. Stretching Operations (concl.) |
| + | |
| + | In order to deal with the HO sign relations that are involved |
| + | in the present setting, I introduce a couple of new notations: |
| + | |
| + | 1. To mark the relation of denotation between a sentence z and the proposition |
| + | that it denotes, let the "spiny bracket" notation "-[z]-" be used for |
| + | "the indicator function denoted by the sentence z". |
| + | |
| + | 2. To mark the relation of denotation between a proposition q and the set |
| + | that it indicates, let the "spiny brace" notation "-{Q}-" be used for |
| + | "the indicator function of the set Q". |
| + | |
| + | Notice that the spiny bracket operator "-[ ]-" takes one "downstream", |
| + | confluent with the direction of denotation, from a sign to its object, |
| + | whereas the spiny brace operator "-{ }-" takes one "upstream", against |
| + | the usual direction of denotation, and thus from an object to its sign. |
| + | |
| + | In order to make these notations useful in practice, it is necessary to note |
| + | a couple of their finer points, points that might otherwise seem too fine to |
| + | take much trouble over. For the sake their ultimate utility, never the less, |
| + | I express their usage a bit more carefully as follows: |
| + | |
| + | 1. Let "spiny brackets", like "-[ ]-", be placed around a name of a sentence z, |
| + | as in the expression "-[z]-", or else around a token appearance of the sentence |
| + | itself, to serve as a name for the proposition that z denotes. |
| + | |
| + | 2. Let "spiny braces", like "-{ }-", be placed around a name of a set Q, as in |
| + | the expression "-{Q}-", to serve as a name for the indicator function f_Q. |
| + | |
| + | In passing, let us recall the use of the "fiber bars" or the "ground marker" |
| + | as an alternate notation for the fiber of truth in a proposition q, like so: |
| + | |
| + | [| q |] = q^(-1)(%1%). |
| + | |
| + | Table 11 illustrates the use of this notation, listing in each Column |
| + | several different but equivalent ways of referring to the same entity. |
| + | |
| + | Table 11. Illustrations of Notation |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | | ` ` `Object ` ` ` | ` ` ` Sign` ` ` ` | Higher Order Sign | |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` `Set` ` ` ` | ` `Proposition` ` | ` ` Sentence` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` Q ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` q ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` z ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` `[| -[z]- |]` ` | ` ` ` -[z]- ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` z ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` `[| q |]` ` ` | ` ` ` ` q ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` `"q"` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` [| f_Q |] ` ` | ` ` ` `f_Q` ` ` ` | ` ` ` "f_Q" ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` Q ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` -{Q}- ` ` ` | ` ` `"-{Q}-"` ` ` | |
| + | | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` | |
| + | o-------------------o-------------------o-------------------o |
| + | |
| + | In effect, one can observe the following relations |
| + | and formulas, all of a purely notational character: |
| + | |
| + | 1. If the sentence z denotes the proposition q : X -> %B%, |
| + | |
| + | then -[z]- = q. |
| + | |
| + | 2. If the sentence z denotes the proposition q : X -> %B%, |
| + | |
| + | hence [|q|] = q^(-1)(%1%) = Q c X, |
| + | |
| + | then -[z]- = q = f_Q = -{Q}-. |
| + | |
| + | 3. Q = {x in X : x in Q} |
| + | |
| + | = [| -{Q}- |] = -{Q}-^(-1)(%1%) |
| + | |
| + | = [| f_Q |] = (f_Q)^(-1)(%1%). |
| + | |
| + | 4. -{Q}- = -{ {x in X : x in Q} }- |
| + | |
| + | = -[x in Q]- |
| + | |
| + | = f_Q. |
| + | |
| + | Now if a sentence z really denotes a proposition q, |
| + | and if the notation "-[z]-" is meant to supply merely |
| + | another name for the proposition that z already denotes, |
| + | then why is there any need for this additional notation? |
| + | It is because the interpretive mind habitually races from |
| + | the sentence z, through the proposition q that it denotes, |
| + | and on to the set Q = [|q|] that the proposition indicates, |
| + | often jumping to the conclusion that the set Q is the only |
| + | thing that the sentence z is intended to denote. This HO |
| + | sign situation and the mind's inclination when placed |
| + | within its setting calls for a linguistic mechanism |
| + | or a notational device that is capable of analyzing |
| + | the compound action and controlling its articulate |
| + | performance, and this requires a way to interrupt |
| + | the flow of assertion that typically takes place |
| + | from z to q to Q. |
| + | |
| + | o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o |
| + | </pre> |