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Concept
Theory (mathematical logic)
Summary
In mathematical logic, a theory (also called a formal theory) is a set of sentences in a formal language. In most scenarios a deductive system is first understood from context, after which an element of a deductively closed theory is then called a theorem of the theory. In many deductive systems there is usually a subset that is called "the set of axioms" of the theory , in which case the deductive system is also called an "axiomatic system". By definition, every axiom is automatically a theorem. A first-order theory is a set of first-order sentences (theorems) recursively obtained by the inference rules of the system applied to the set of axioms.
When defining theories for foundational purposes, additional care must be taken, as normal set-theoretic language may not be appropriate.
The construction of a theory begins by specifying a definite non-empty conceptual class , the elements of which are called statements. These initial statements are often called the primitive elements or elementary statements of the theory—to distinguish them from other statements that may be derived from them.
A theory is a conceptual class consisting of certain of these elementary statements. The elementary statements that belong to are called the elementary theorems of and are said to be true. In this way, a theory can be seen as a way of designating a subset of that only contain statements that are true.
This general way of designating a theory stipulates that the truth of any of its elementary statements is not known without reference to . Thus the same elementary statement may be true with respect to one theory but false with respect to another. This is reminiscent of the case in ordinary language where statements such as "He is an honest person" cannot be judged true or false without interpreting who "he" is, and, for that matter, what an "honest person" is under this theory.
A theory is a subtheory of a theory if is a subset of .
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