Introduction to Mathematical PhilosophyRussell, Bertrand
Philosophy
Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy
Russell, Bertrand
Mathematics -- Philosophy
We shall employ still the notion of correlation: we shall
assume that the domain of the one relation can be correlated
with the domain of the other, and the converse domain with the
converse domain; but that is not enough for the sort of resemblance
which we desire to have between our two relations.
What we desire is that, whenever either relation holds between
two terms, the other relation shall hold between the correlates
of these two terms. The easiest example of the sort of thing
we desire is a map. When one place is north of another, the
place on the map corresponding to the one is above the place
on the map corresponding to the other; when one place is west
of another, the place on the map corresponding to the one is
to the left of the place on the map corresponding to the other;
and so on. The structure of the map corresponds with that of
[Pg 52]
the country of which it is a map. The space-relations in the
map have "likeness" to the space-relations in the country
mapped. It is this kind of connection between relations that
we wish to define.
We may, in the first place, profitably introduce a certain
restriction. We will confine ourselves, in defining likeness, to
such relations as have "fields," i.e. to such as permit of the
formation of a single class out of the domain and the converse
domain. This is not always the case. Take, for example,
the relation "domain," i.e. the relation which the domain of a
relation has to the relation. This relation has all classes for its
domain, since every class is the domain of some relation; and
it has all relations for its converse domain, since every relation
has a domain. But classes and relations cannot be added together
to form a new single class, because they are of different
logical "types." We do not need to enter upon the difficult
doctrine of types, but it is well to know when we are abstaining
from entering upon it. We may say, without entering upon
the grounds for the assertion, that a relation only has a "field"
when it is what we call "homogeneous," i.e. when its domain
and converse domain are of the same logical type; and as a
rough-and-ready indication of what we mean by a "type,"
we may say that individuals, classes of individuals, relations
between individuals, relations between classes, relations of
classes to individuals, and so on, are different types. Now the
notion of likeness is not very useful as applied to relations that
are not homogeneous; we shall, therefore, in defining likeness,
simplify our problem by speaking of the "field" of one of the
relations concerned. This somewhat limits the generality of
our definition, but the limitation is not of any practical importance.
And having been stated, it need no longer be remembered.
We may define two relations and as "similar," or as
having "likeness," when there is a one-one relation whose
domain is the field of and whose converse domain is the field
of , and which is such that, if one term has the relation
[Pg 53]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account