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Definable Terms and Primitives in Axiom Systems

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Models of Discovery

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 54))

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Abstract

An axiom system may be constructed for a theory of empirical phenomena with any of a number of goals in mind. Some of these goals are identical with those that motivate the axiomatization of mathematical theories, hence relate only to the formal structure of the theory — its syntax. Other goals for axiomatizing scientific theories relate to the problems of verifying the theories empirically, hence incorporate semantic considerations.

[Henkin, Suppes and Tarski (eds.), The Axiomatic Method, Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Co., 1959, pp. 443–453].

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© 1977 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland

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Simon, H.A. (1977). Definable Terms and Primitives in Axiom Systems. In: Models of Discovery. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 54. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9521-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9521-1_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-277-0970-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-9521-1

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