EVENTS
 2010
 Abstract
 4th Lauener  Symposium




Events 2010

4th International Lauener Symposium on Analytical Philosophy
In Honour of Professor Sir Michael Dummett

Prof. Dr. Crispin Wright

(New York University / University of Aberdeen)
Whence the Paradox? Axiom V and Indefinite Extensibility

      In the last chapter of Frege: Philosophy of Mathematics Michael Dummett suggests that Frege's major mistake – the key to the collapse of the project of Grundgesetze – consisted in "his supposing there to be a totality containing the extension of every concept defined over it; more generally [the mistake] lay in his not having the glimmering of a suspicion of the existence of indefinitely extensible concepts" (page 317). I will try to say what I think is right about this particular diagnostic suggestion of Dummett's: to propose a characterization of indefinite extensibility, and to explain the connection of the notion so characterized with paradox.


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