[FOM] Workshop on Logical Constants (part of ESSLLI 2011)

[Martin Davis]

Workshop Announcement and Call for Papers
Logical Constants
August 8-12, 2011, Ljubljana, Slovenia
part of ESSLLI 2011
( From: Denis Bonnay <denis.bonnay at gmail.com>)

Invited Speakers
Johan van Benthem (ILLC & Stanford University)
Kosta Došen (Mathematical Institute, Belgrade)
Solomon Feferman (Stanford University)
Greg Restall (University of Melbourne)
Gila Sher (UC San Diego)

Organizers
Denis Bonnay (Paris Ouest University)
Dag Westerståhl (University of Gothenburg)
Co-organizer
Uli Sauerland (Zentrum für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft, Berlin)

Workshop Description
All logical systems make a distinction between 
logical and non-logical symbols, and the meaning 
of the former needs to be specified in detail and 
in effect defines the logic in question. This 
distinction is usually stipulated (though it can 
be argued that natural languages make a similar 
distinction), but the issue of the grounds for 
it, i.e. of what characterizes a logical 
constant, is a central question in logic, cutting 
across the huge variety of logical systems 
existing today. This question has been tackled 
from various sides, ranging from historical 
investigation to formal criteria spelled out 
within different logical frameworks. The main aim 
of the workshop is to gain a better understanding 
of the problem by bringing together complementary 
approaches coming from various fields:
*** Logic. Given a particular logical framework 
(e.g. semantic, proof-theoretic, game-theoretic), 
is there a systematic way to characterize the 
class of logical constants within that framework? 
Is it possible to provide an integrated account 
covering the various frameworks?
*** Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics. What are 
the relevant conceptual analyses of logicality? 
What is the philosophical significance of the 
distinction for the philosophy of logic and 
philosophy of mathematics, e.g. regarding the success or failure of logicism?
*** Linguistics. Is there a linguistic or 
psycholinguistic « natural kind » corresponding to logical words?
*** History of Logic. How did the question 
emerge? What are the relationships between 
historical forerunners of the distinction (such 
as the distinction between categoremata and 
syncategoremata) and the contemporary idea of logical constants?


The workshop is organized as part of ESSLLI, 
August 1-12, 2011 (http://esslli2011.ijs.si/). 
Participants are required to register at ESSLLI 
2011, and can attend any other ESSLLI courses and workshops of their choice.

Call for Papers
Submissions should consist of anonymous abstracts 
of no more than 3 pages, single-spaced, 12pt, 
including title and references (preferred formats 
for submission are pdf and Word). Abstracts should be sent electronically to:
logicalconstants2011 AT gmail DOT com
Authors should include their name, the title of 
the paper, and contact information in the body of 
the email. Abstracts will be reviewed by the following:

Program committee for submitted papers
Johan van Benthem (ILLC & Stanford University)
Denis Bonnay (Paris Ouest University)
Greg Restall (University of Melbourne)
Gila Sher (UC San Diego)
Benjamin Spector (Institut Jean Nicod)
Dag Westerståhl (University of Gothenburg)

Dates
Deadline for submission: Feb 15 2011.
Notification to authors: March 15 2011.


Conference Website
http://lumiere.ens.fr/~dbonnay/files/conference/logicalconstants.htm

Supported by
*** European Science Foundation (ESF)
*** The Swedish Research Council
*** ESSLLI 2011