Definition and Content in Frege's Logic - OCIE Seminar

Explore a comprehensive lecture on "Definition and Content in Frege's Logic" presented by Robert May, Ph.D. from UC Davis as part of the Orange County Inland Empire (OCIE) Seminar series in History and Philosophy of Mathematics. Delve into Frege's central notions, focusing on his canons of proper definition and their role in his theoretical account of mathematics. Examine the core definition of Frege's logicist program, specifically the definition of the cardinal number of a concept. Investigate topics such as the conservativity of definitions, its relation to Frege's Proof of Referentiality in Grundgesetze, the mathematical expressiveness of definitions, and Frege's perspective on the relationship between concepts and extensions in defining core theoretical concepts. Analyze how this approach ultimately leads to Russell's Paradox. Gain insights from this nearly two-hour presentation, which combines theoretical perspectives and collaborative research to provide a deep understanding of Frege's logical system and its implications for mathematics and philosophy.