Topics, Focus, and Relevance Properties in First-Order Relevant Logic

Nicholas Ferenz (LanCog, University of Lisbon)

26 September 2025, 16:00 (Lisbon Time – WET)

Faculdade de Letras de Lisboa

Sala Mattos Romão [C201.J] (Departamento de Filosofia)

Abstract: In this joint work with Andrew Tedder, we investigate the problem of providing relevance properties for first order relevant logics by expanding on recent work concerning relevance as topical in propositional relevant logics. We propose a theory of topic for first order languages in general, relying on the use of focus markers in an extension of the usual first order language. Such an enrichment of the language and conceptual apparatus of a logic provides avenues into the problem of identifying relevance properties for first-order relevant logics.

This event is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the project UID/00310, Centro de Filosofia da Universidade de Lisboa.