Speaker : Yannic Kappes, Hamburg University

Title: On the Explanation of Logical Theorems

Abstract:

Standard grounding explanations of logical theorems explain the latter in terms of their true atomic constituents. For example, if P is true, then P∨¬P is grounded in (and hence explained by) P. This can seem unsatisfactory for various reasons. Yet there are further reasons to believe that no other grounding explanations of logical theorems are possible. After having argued this, I develop an alternative, non-grounding involving, approach that is partially based on some of Stephen Yablo's thoughts about reductive truthmaking and partially on the idea that logical theorems should somehow be explainable by their status as essential or law-like truths.