8. Numerations

8.1. The existential quantifier

8.1.0. Overview

We will now to turn claims that are more explicitly quantificational than generalizations are. The first sort of claim we will look at is one that claims the existence of an example of a certain sort.

8.1.1. Exemplification
Most of the ideas used in analyzing English generalizations apply also to claims of exemplification; but, instead of three forms, we have only one.

8.1.2. Obversion
As was noted in 7.3.1, every claim of existence amounts to the denial of a generalization.

8.1.3. Conversion
The quantifier phrase and quantified predicate of an existential claim are interchangeable, a feature that is associated with the use of the phrase there is.

8.1.4. Existentials exemplified
Most analyses of existential claims are straightforward, but there is often a wide variety of ways of expressing the same content in English.

8.1.5. Existential commitment
The impact of the way we handle terms that refer to nothing is clearest when we consider the content of existential claims.