<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>We discuss a theory presented in a posthumous paper by Alfred Tarski entitled “What are logical notions?”. Although the theory of these <italic>logical notions</italic> is something outside of the main stream of logic, not presented in logic textbooks, it is a very interesting theory and can easily be understood by anybody, especially studying the simplest case of the four basic logical notions. This is what we are doing here, as well as introducing a challenging fifth logical notion. We first recall the context and origin of what are here called Tarski-Lindenbaum logical notions. In the second part, we present these notions in the simple case of a binary relation. In the third part, we examine in which sense these are considered as logical notions contrasting them with an example of a nonlogical relation. In the fourth part, we discuss the formulations of the four logical notions in natural language and in first-order logic without equality, emphasizing the fact that two of the four logical notions cannot be expressed in this formal language. In the fifth part, we discuss the relations between these notions using the theory of the square of opposition. In the sixth part, we introduce the notion of variety corresponding to all non-logical notions and we argue that it can be considered as a logical notion because it is invariant, always referring to the same class of structures. In the seventh part, we present an enigma: is variety formalizable in first-order logic without equality? There follow recollections concerning Jan Woleński. This paper is dedicated to his 80<sup>th</sup> birthday. We end with the bibliography, giving some precise references for those wanting to know more about the topic.</p></abstract>

We discuss a theory presented in a posthumous paper by Alfred Tarski entitled “What are logical notions?”. Although the theory of these logical notions is something outside of the main stream of logic, not presented in logic textbooks, it is a very interesting theory and can easily be understood by anybody, especially studying the simplest case of the four basic logical notions. This is what we are doing here, as well as introducing a challenging fifth logical notion. We first recall the context and origin of what are here called Tarski-Lindenbaum logical notions. In the second part, we present these notions in the simple case of a binary relation. In the third part, we examine in which sense these are considered as logical notions contrasting them with an example of a nonlogical relation. In the fourth part, we discuss the formulations of the four logical notions in natural language and in first-order logic without equality, emphasizing the fact that two of the four logical notions cannot be expressed in this formal language. In the fifth part, we discuss the relations between these notions using the theory of the square of opposition. In the sixth part, we introduce the notion of variety corresponding to all non-logical notions and we argue that it can be considered as a logical notion because it is invariant, always referring to the same class of structures. In the seventh part, we present an enigma: is variety formalizable in first-order logic without equality? There follow recollections concerning Jan Woleński. This paper is dedicated to his 80th birthday. We end with the bibliography, giving some precise references for those wanting to know more about the topic.

The Mystery of the Fifth Logical Notion (Alice in the Wonderful Land of Logical Notions)

Studia Humana

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

We discuss a theory presented in a posthumous paper by Alfred Tarski entitled “What are logical notions?”. Although the theory of these logical notions is...

The Mystery of the Fifth Logical Notion (Alice in the Wonderful Land of Logical Notions)

Published Online: Nov 11, 2020

Page range: 19 - 36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2020-0026

Keywords
identity, difference, model, categoricity, invariance, square of opposition, Alfred Tarski, Adolf Lindenbaum, Jan Woleński

© 2020 Jean-Yves Beziau, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Mystery of the Fifth Logical Notion (Alice in the Wonderful Land of Logical Notions)

Published Online: Nov 11, 2020

Page range: 19 - 36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2020-0026

Keywordsidentity, difference, model, categoricity, invariance, square of opposition, Alfred Tarski, Adolf Lindenbaum, Jan Woleński

© 2020 Jean-Yves Beziau, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
identity, difference, model, categoricity, invariance, square of opposition, Alfred Tarski, Adolf Lindenbaum, Jan Woleński