Suppes’ Contribution to Logic and Linguistics

Abstract

Patrick Suppes’ contributions in the areas of logic, linguistics and philosophy of language are marked by a characteristic methodological approach. The end is always a clear formulation of a theory that makes it accessible to empirical test; the means is a formulation within a well-understood mathematical theory. The product of his inquiries is not always, however, a definitive set of observational predictions derived from the more precisely formulated theory; often the inquiry leads to conceptual or mathematical problems that must be resolved before any testable consequences can be derived. Thus the work is best seen as a program directed toward making the theories in question more precise and testable. I have divided Suppes’ work into three areas: the logic of empirical theories, theories of syntax, theories of semantics. In each case I have found it necessary to select from among his considerable writings those which seem most significant and representative. Each area is treated in a section below.