Definition:Predicate
Definition
The predicate of a simple statement in logic is the part of the statement which defines what is being said about the subject.
It is a word or phrase which, when combined with one or more names of objects, turns into a meaningful sentence.
The predicates of simple statements are atomic in predicate logic.
The subject and predicate of a simple statement are referred to as its terms.
Linguistic Interpretation: The Meaning of Is
- There are two basic types of sentences, namely, assertions of belonging:
- $x \in A$
- and assertions of equality:
- $A = B$
-- 1960: Paul R. Halmos: Naive Set Theory: $\S 2$: The Axiom of Specification.
The Is of Predication
Consider the statement:
- Socrates is a man.
This means:
Thus we see that is here means has the property of being.
In this context, is here is called the is of predication.
The Is of Identity
Consider the sentence:
- Socrates is the philosopher who taught Plato.
This could be reworded as:
However, the meaning that is really being conveyed here is that of:
- The object named Socrates is the same object as the object which is the philosopher who taught Plato.
In this context, is is not being used in the same way as the is of predication.
When being used to indicate that one object is the same object as another object, is is called the is of identity.
In this context, is means the same as equals.
Quote
- It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. -- William 'B.J.' Clinton
Examples
Favourite Music
The string Prime.mover is a constant.
The statement:
- $x$ is one of Prime.mover's favourite pieces of music
is a predicate which involves a variable and a constant.
Sources
- 1960: Paul R. Halmos: Naive Set Theory ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 2$: The Axiom of Specification
- 1973: Irving M. Copi: Symbolic Logic (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $4$: Propositional Functions and Quantifiers: $4.1$: Singular Propositions and General Propositions
- 1972: A.G. Howson: A Handbook of Terms used in Algebra and Analysis ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1$: Some mathematical language: Variables and quantifiers
- 1980: D.J. O'Connor and Betty Powell: Elementary Logic ... (previous) ... (next): $\S \text{III}$: The Logic of Predicates $(1): \ 2$: Predicate expressions
- 1988: Alan G. Hamilton: Logic for Mathematicians (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1$: Informal statement calculus: $\S 1.1$: Statements and connectives
- 1996: H. Jerome Keisler and Joel Robbin: Mathematical Logic and Computability ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 2.1$: Introduction
- 2008: David Joyner: Adventures in Group Theory (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Elementary, my dear Watson: $\S 1.1.1$: 'You talking to me?': Definition $1.1.4$