Structural representation and surrogative reasoning

摘要: It is argued that a number of important, and seemingly disparate, types representation are species single relation, here called structural representation, can be described in detail studied way considerable philosophical interest. A depends on the existence common structure between which it represents, important because allows us to reason directly about order draw conclusions phenomenon depicts. The present goal give general precise account then use illuminate several problems current interest — including some do not initially seem involve at all. In particular, ontological reductions (like natural numbers sets), compositional accounts semantics, sorts mental (perhaps) possible worlds semantics for intensional logics all fruitfully framework developed here.