FOM: second-order logic is a myth

[Charles Silver]

On Sun, 28 Feb 1999, Stephen G Simpson wrote:

[Deletions]
> Let me concentrate instead on Shapiro's philosophical case.
> 
> Boiled down to essentials, Shapiro's case for second-order logic seems
> to be as follows:
> 
>   1. There is no sharp boundary between mathematics and logic.
>   
>   2. In the present historical era, mathematicians standardly assume
>   set-theoretic realism, including the existence of actual infinities
>   and an absolute powerset operation applying to them.
>   
>   3. Therefore, logicians ought to also assume these things.

[Deletions]

> Against 3, I reject the notion that f.o.m. professionals ought to
> slavishly follow the current practice of `working mathematicians'.
> F.o.m. should take and does take a higher, broader, more universal
> perspective.  As I have said many times here on the FOM list,
> f.o.m. addresses the place of mathematics in the totality of human
> knowledge.  The Shapiro case leaves no way to do that.  For instance,
> Shapiro says nothing about the obvious disconnect between Platonist
> realism and applied mathematics.

Steve,

	I didn't understand this paragraph very well.  What "more
universal perspective" should we adopt?  I didn't get the reference to
"the totality of human knowledge."  I also did not fathom "the obvious
disconnect."  Could you provide a few more words of explanation?

Charlie Silver