## Journal of Symbolic Logic

### Interpreting descriptions in intensional type theory

Jesper Carlström

#### Abstract

Natural deduction systems with indefinite and definite descriptions (ε-terms and ℩-terms) are presented, and interpreted in Martin-Löf's intensional type theory. The interpretations are formalizations of ideas which are implicit in the literature of constructive mathematics: if we have proved that an element with a certain property exists, we speak of ‘the element such that the property holds' and refer by that phrase to the element constructed in the existence proof. In particular, we deviate from the practice of interpreting descriptions by contextual definitions.

#### Article information

Source
J. Symbolic Logic Volume 70, Issue 2 (2005), 488-514.

Dates
First available: 1 July 2005

http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.jsl/1120224725

Digital Object Identifier
doi:10.2178/jsl/1120224725

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
1089.03051

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR2140043

#### Citation

Carlström, Jesper. Interpreting descriptions in intensional type theory. Journal of Symbolic Logic 70 (2005), no. 2, 488--514. doi:10.2178/jsl/1120224725. http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.jsl/1120224725.

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