奎因、怀曼与布里丹:本体论约定的三种方法

本文对本体论约定(ontological commitment)问题的三种根本不同方法进行了比较。认为尽管它们具有表面上的相似性,但中世纪晚期的唯名论哲学家布里丹(约1300-1361)的方法,是比以迈农和奎因为代表的其他两种被普遍认同的现代方法更具吸引力的第三种选择。本文同时指出,只有基于其关于真与逻辑有效性的语义观念的截然不同的前现代方法,布里丹的方法才是可能的。

Quine,Wyman,and Buridan:Three Approaches to Ontological Commitment

This paper provides a comparison among the three fundamentally different approaches to the issue of ontological commitment, which are made by Quine, Wyman, and Buridan. It argues that although there are superficial similarities among the three, the approach made by John Buridan (1300-1361), provides a more intriguing alternative than other two that are commonly recognized as modern ones. It points out that Buridan’s is possible only if based on his own radically different, pre-modern approach to the semantic notions of truth and logical validity.