Yll Buzoku: An introduction to Base-extension Semantics

Yll Buzoku (University College London)

Abstract: Proof-theoretic Semantics is a semantic discipline which attempts to explicate the meanings of privileged words of a language in terms of argumentations using rules which govern the usage of such words. Particularly when talking about logics, one may attempt to give meaning to logical connectives using proofs in terms of the rules of an inference system. One particular approach to proof-theoretic semantics, that of base-extension semantics, has in the past few years been studied in great detail and several examples of different base-extension semantics have been successfully developed for different logics. In this talk, I wish to gently introduce the idea of base-extension semantics, giving some historical context to the initial development of the field, followed by an overview of the currently developed base-extension semantics and discuss the difficulties involved in the development of such a semantics for a logic. This talk is assumes no knowledge of the field and is designed to be self contained. I look forwards to seeing you there.