Mark Addis (Birmingham City) “Categorical Abstract Model Theory and the Syntax of Physical Theories”

Abstract: The syntactic approach to physical theories was and is unpopular for reasons which have much more to do with the limitations of first order logic than any fundamental philosophical deficiencies of the position itself. The flexibility of the abstract model theory approach of the theory of institutions is very helpful for permitting the study of physical theories from both the syntactic and semantic perspectives. Given this there are substantial grounds for reassessing the value of engaging in the study of syntactic features and for questioning whether current widespread rejection of syntactic analysis of physical theories is well justified.

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