Abstract: Unlike first-order logic, higher-order logic permits quantification into syntactic positions other than name position, such as predicate position and sentence position. The contemporary movement called ‘higher-order metaphysics’ is based on higher-order logic. But there is significant confusion about how higher-order metaphysics relates to existing questions in metaphysics, which in turn clouds our understanding of the merits and demerits of higher-order metaphysical theories. Building on work done by Lukas Skiba, I use the notion of conceptual engineering to offer clarification.
Activities > Colloquium > Understanding higher-order metaphysics
