Mathematical Logic
In much formal work, authors use a definite description operator symbolized using . The operator is usually defined so as to reflect a Russellian analysis of descriptions (though other authors, especially in linguistics, use the operator with a Fregean semantics). Thus
- ,
means "the unique such that ", and
is stipulated to be equivalent to "There is exactly one and it has the property ":
Read more about this topic: Definite Description
Famous quotes containing the words mathematical and/or logic:
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