Definition:Language of Predicate Logic/Alphabet

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Definition

The alphabet $\AA$ of the language of predicate logic $\LL_1$ is defined as follows:


Letters

The letters of $\LL_1$ are separated in three classes:

Each of these three classes is handled differently by the formal grammar of predicate logic.


Variables

The variables constitute an infinite set $\mathrm{VAR}$ of arbitrary symbols, for example:

$\mathrm{VAR} = \set {x, y, z, x_0, y_0, z_0, x_1, y_1, z_1, \ldots}$


Predicate Symbols

The predicate symbols are a collection of arbitrary symbols.

Each of these symbols is considered to be endowed with an arity (a natural number $n \in \N$).

We agree to write $\PP$ for the set of predicate symbols, grouped by their arity:

$\PP = \set {\PP_0, \PP_1, \PP_2, \ldots, \PP_k, \ldots}$

The symbols in $\PP_0$ are inherited from the language of propositional logic.


For example, if $P \in \PP_5$ then $P$ is a quinternary predicate symbol.


Function Symbols

The function symbols are a collection (possibly empty) of arbitrary symbols.

Each of these symbols is considered to be endowed with an arity (a natural number $n \in \N$).

We agree to write $\FF$ for the set of function symbols, grouped by their arity:

$\FF = \set {\FF_0, \FF_1, \ldots, \FF_k, \ldots}$

The symbols in $\FF_0$ are often called parameters or constants.

Some sources write $\KK$ for the collection of parameters.


Signs

The signs of $\LL_1$ are an extension of the signs of propositional logic.

They split in three classes:


Connectives

The connectives of $\LL_1$ comprise:

   \(\ds \land \)   \(\ds : \)   the conjunction sign      
   \(\ds \lor \)   \(\ds : \)   the disjunction sign      
   \(\ds \implies \)   \(\ds : \)   the conditional sign      
   \(\ds \iff \)   \(\ds : \)   the biconditional sign      
   \(\ds \neg \)   \(\ds : \)   the negation sign      
   \(\ds \top \)   \(\ds : \)   the top sign      
   \(\ds \bot \)   \(\ds : \)   the bottom sign      


The symbols $\land, \lor, \implies$ and $\iff$ are called the binary connectives.

The symbols $\neg$ is called a unary connective.

The symbols $\top$ and $\bot$ are called the nullary connectives.


Quantifiers

The quantifiers of $\LL_1$ are:

   \(\ds \exists \)   \(\ds : \)   the existential quantifier sign      
   \(\ds \forall \)   \(\ds : \)   the universal quantifier sign      


Punctuation

The punctuation symbols used in $\LL_1$ are:

   \(\ds ( \)   \(\ds : \)   the left parenthesis sign      
   \(\ds ) \)   \(\ds : \)   the right parenthesis sign      
   \(\ds : \)   \(\ds : \)   the colon      
   \(\ds , \)   \(\ds : \)   the comma      


Sources