Is there a difference between equality and identity?Is there a difference between inconsistent and contrary?Dual of identity relation?What is the difference between identity and equivalence?What is the difference between a logical truth and a tautology?Logical difference between 'equivalence' and 'an absence of differences'What is the difference between the “is” of predication and the “is” of identity?Is there any difference between declarative sentences and statements?What is the difference between “logical equivalence” and “material equivalence”?
Is it really necessary to have a four hour meeting in Sprint planning?
Safe to use 220V electric clothes dryer when building has been bridged down to 110V?
When is it acceptable to write a bad letter of recommendation?
Strange Sticky Substance on Digital Camera
What is the difference between an astronaut in the ISS and a freediver in perfect neutral buoyancy?
What is the meaning of "heutig" in this sentence?
Hilbert's hotel: why can't I repeat it infinitely many times?
Cut a cake into 3 equal portions with only a knife
Which place in our solar system is the most fit for terraforming?
Are lawyers allowed to come to agreements with opposing lawyers without the client's knowledge or consent?
Extruding snaps back
What secular civic space would pioneers build for small frontier towns?
How do you use the interjection for snorting?
Why are there two fundamental laws of logic?
How to conceptualize Newton's apple?
Does "as soon as" imply simultaneity?
How to say "cheat sheet" in French
practicality of 30 year fix mortgage at 55 years of age
Why does this image of Jupiter look so strange?
Line segments inside a square
Why did UK NHS pay for homeopathic treatments?
Could Apollo astronauts see city lights from the moon?
Subverting the emotional woman and stoic man trope
Does HTTP HSTS protect a domain from a bad-actor publically-trusted-CA issing a illegitimate valid certificate?
Is there a difference between equality and identity?
Is there a difference between inconsistent and contrary?Dual of identity relation?What is the difference between identity and equivalence?What is the difference between a logical truth and a tautology?Logical difference between 'equivalence' and 'an absence of differences'What is the difference between the “is” of predication and the “is” of identity?Is there any difference between declarative sentences and statements?What is the difference between “logical equivalence” and “material equivalence”?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
Is there any difference between equality and identity, or are they the same concept?
logic philosophy-of-logic
add a comment
|
Is there any difference between equality and identity, or are they the same concept?
logic philosophy-of-logic
Just curious, is this related to a discussion ongoing on another forum?
– user4894
7 hours ago
@ user107952 Yes, there is a difference: Two cars of the same model may be "equal", but they are not "identical": At one time you can drive only one of them. "Equality" means that the relevant properties are "identical".
– Jo Wehler
18 mins ago
add a comment
|
Is there any difference between equality and identity, or are they the same concept?
logic philosophy-of-logic
Is there any difference between equality and identity, or are they the same concept?
logic philosophy-of-logic
logic philosophy-of-logic
edited 7 hours ago
Frank Hubeny
15.7k6 gold badges18 silver badges70 bronze badges
15.7k6 gold badges18 silver badges70 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
user107952user107952
4482 silver badges11 bronze badges
4482 silver badges11 bronze badges
Just curious, is this related to a discussion ongoing on another forum?
– user4894
7 hours ago
@ user107952 Yes, there is a difference: Two cars of the same model may be "equal", but they are not "identical": At one time you can drive only one of them. "Equality" means that the relevant properties are "identical".
– Jo Wehler
18 mins ago
add a comment
|
Just curious, is this related to a discussion ongoing on another forum?
– user4894
7 hours ago
@ user107952 Yes, there is a difference: Two cars of the same model may be "equal", but they are not "identical": At one time you can drive only one of them. "Equality" means that the relevant properties are "identical".
– Jo Wehler
18 mins ago
Just curious, is this related to a discussion ongoing on another forum?
– user4894
7 hours ago
Just curious, is this related to a discussion ongoing on another forum?
– user4894
7 hours ago
@ user107952 Yes, there is a difference: Two cars of the same model may be "equal", but they are not "identical": At one time you can drive only one of them. "Equality" means that the relevant properties are "identical".
– Jo Wehler
18 mins ago
@ user107952 Yes, there is a difference: Two cars of the same model may be "equal", but they are not "identical": At one time you can drive only one of them. "Equality" means that the relevant properties are "identical".
– Jo Wehler
18 mins ago
add a comment
|
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Different sources (contexts) may approach these concepts differently. The authors of the introductory logic text forallx uses the equality symbol (=) to stand for a two place predicate and calls it identity: (page 222)
This does not mean merely that the objects in question are in-distinguishable, or that all of the same things are true of them.Rather, it means that the objects in question are the very same object.
In a different context there is the identity of indiscernibles. Peter Forrest describes this concept:
The Identity of Indiscernibles ... is usually formulated as follows: if, for every property F, object x has F if and only if object y has F, then x is identical to y. Or in the notation of symbolic logic:
∀F(Fx ↔ Fy) → x=y.
Again an equal sign is used in the symbolization, but only a special kind of identity is defined.
Note that this definition is different from the previous one. That previous definition explicitly noted that two objects having the property that "all of the same things are true of them" does not characterize identity. Identity was being the "very same object", not two different objects with the same predicates true of them.
What this suggests is that there is not likely to be any single difference between equality and identity. Each context where these two terms are used in some way may have its own definition. Any difference would be with respect to a particular context.
If one is given a context, explicitly look for definitions of equality and identity and then compare those definitions with others that one is familiar with such as the two above.
Forrest, Peter, "The Identity of Indiscernibles", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/identity-indiscernible/.
P. D. Magnus, Tim Button with additions by J. Robert Loftis remixed and revised by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc, Richard Zach, forallx Calgary Remix: An Introduction to Formal Logic, Fall 2019. http://forallx.openlogicproject.org/forallxyyc.pdf
add a comment
|
In formal logic, identity is a two-place predicate. It could be written Identical(x,y). It has the value true when x and y are numerically identical and false otherwise. As a matter of syntactic sugar, it is usually written as x=y, but it is still a two-place predicate. In first-order logic, at least, there is no need for an additional relation of equality, so we might say they are the same.
In mathematics, an additional complication arises. Mathematicians do not typically write formulas using the strict requirements of formal logic, In particular, they typically omit the quantifiers and take them as read. As a result, it may become ambiguous as to whether universal or existential quantification is implied. So, for example, a relationship like
x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
is implicitly existentially quantified, i.e. it is solvable for a particular value of x. On the other hand,
sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
is implicitly universally quantified, i.e. it holds for all x.
Mathematicians usually refer to the first as an equation and the latter as an identity relation. If we chose instead to write the formulas in a more strict fashion with the quantifiers made explicit, there would be no need for the distinction.
∃x. x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
∀x. sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
A possible exception might arise if you were to venture into the realm of intensional logics, where you might use equality to denote extensional equivalence, and identity for intensional equivalence.
add a comment
|
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "265"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"u003ecc by-sa 4.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphilosophy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f67227%2fis-there-a-difference-between-equality-and-identity%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Different sources (contexts) may approach these concepts differently. The authors of the introductory logic text forallx uses the equality symbol (=) to stand for a two place predicate and calls it identity: (page 222)
This does not mean merely that the objects in question are in-distinguishable, or that all of the same things are true of them.Rather, it means that the objects in question are the very same object.
In a different context there is the identity of indiscernibles. Peter Forrest describes this concept:
The Identity of Indiscernibles ... is usually formulated as follows: if, for every property F, object x has F if and only if object y has F, then x is identical to y. Or in the notation of symbolic logic:
∀F(Fx ↔ Fy) → x=y.
Again an equal sign is used in the symbolization, but only a special kind of identity is defined.
Note that this definition is different from the previous one. That previous definition explicitly noted that two objects having the property that "all of the same things are true of them" does not characterize identity. Identity was being the "very same object", not two different objects with the same predicates true of them.
What this suggests is that there is not likely to be any single difference between equality and identity. Each context where these two terms are used in some way may have its own definition. Any difference would be with respect to a particular context.
If one is given a context, explicitly look for definitions of equality and identity and then compare those definitions with others that one is familiar with such as the two above.
Forrest, Peter, "The Identity of Indiscernibles", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/identity-indiscernible/.
P. D. Magnus, Tim Button with additions by J. Robert Loftis remixed and revised by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc, Richard Zach, forallx Calgary Remix: An Introduction to Formal Logic, Fall 2019. http://forallx.openlogicproject.org/forallxyyc.pdf
add a comment
|
Different sources (contexts) may approach these concepts differently. The authors of the introductory logic text forallx uses the equality symbol (=) to stand for a two place predicate and calls it identity: (page 222)
This does not mean merely that the objects in question are in-distinguishable, or that all of the same things are true of them.Rather, it means that the objects in question are the very same object.
In a different context there is the identity of indiscernibles. Peter Forrest describes this concept:
The Identity of Indiscernibles ... is usually formulated as follows: if, for every property F, object x has F if and only if object y has F, then x is identical to y. Or in the notation of symbolic logic:
∀F(Fx ↔ Fy) → x=y.
Again an equal sign is used in the symbolization, but only a special kind of identity is defined.
Note that this definition is different from the previous one. That previous definition explicitly noted that two objects having the property that "all of the same things are true of them" does not characterize identity. Identity was being the "very same object", not two different objects with the same predicates true of them.
What this suggests is that there is not likely to be any single difference between equality and identity. Each context where these two terms are used in some way may have its own definition. Any difference would be with respect to a particular context.
If one is given a context, explicitly look for definitions of equality and identity and then compare those definitions with others that one is familiar with such as the two above.
Forrest, Peter, "The Identity of Indiscernibles", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/identity-indiscernible/.
P. D. Magnus, Tim Button with additions by J. Robert Loftis remixed and revised by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc, Richard Zach, forallx Calgary Remix: An Introduction to Formal Logic, Fall 2019. http://forallx.openlogicproject.org/forallxyyc.pdf
add a comment
|
Different sources (contexts) may approach these concepts differently. The authors of the introductory logic text forallx uses the equality symbol (=) to stand for a two place predicate and calls it identity: (page 222)
This does not mean merely that the objects in question are in-distinguishable, or that all of the same things are true of them.Rather, it means that the objects in question are the very same object.
In a different context there is the identity of indiscernibles. Peter Forrest describes this concept:
The Identity of Indiscernibles ... is usually formulated as follows: if, for every property F, object x has F if and only if object y has F, then x is identical to y. Or in the notation of symbolic logic:
∀F(Fx ↔ Fy) → x=y.
Again an equal sign is used in the symbolization, but only a special kind of identity is defined.
Note that this definition is different from the previous one. That previous definition explicitly noted that two objects having the property that "all of the same things are true of them" does not characterize identity. Identity was being the "very same object", not two different objects with the same predicates true of them.
What this suggests is that there is not likely to be any single difference between equality and identity. Each context where these two terms are used in some way may have its own definition. Any difference would be with respect to a particular context.
If one is given a context, explicitly look for definitions of equality and identity and then compare those definitions with others that one is familiar with such as the two above.
Forrest, Peter, "The Identity of Indiscernibles", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/identity-indiscernible/.
P. D. Magnus, Tim Button with additions by J. Robert Loftis remixed and revised by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc, Richard Zach, forallx Calgary Remix: An Introduction to Formal Logic, Fall 2019. http://forallx.openlogicproject.org/forallxyyc.pdf
Different sources (contexts) may approach these concepts differently. The authors of the introductory logic text forallx uses the equality symbol (=) to stand for a two place predicate and calls it identity: (page 222)
This does not mean merely that the objects in question are in-distinguishable, or that all of the same things are true of them.Rather, it means that the objects in question are the very same object.
In a different context there is the identity of indiscernibles. Peter Forrest describes this concept:
The Identity of Indiscernibles ... is usually formulated as follows: if, for every property F, object x has F if and only if object y has F, then x is identical to y. Or in the notation of symbolic logic:
∀F(Fx ↔ Fy) → x=y.
Again an equal sign is used in the symbolization, but only a special kind of identity is defined.
Note that this definition is different from the previous one. That previous definition explicitly noted that two objects having the property that "all of the same things are true of them" does not characterize identity. Identity was being the "very same object", not two different objects with the same predicates true of them.
What this suggests is that there is not likely to be any single difference between equality and identity. Each context where these two terms are used in some way may have its own definition. Any difference would be with respect to a particular context.
If one is given a context, explicitly look for definitions of equality and identity and then compare those definitions with others that one is familiar with such as the two above.
Forrest, Peter, "The Identity of Indiscernibles", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/identity-indiscernible/.
P. D. Magnus, Tim Button with additions by J. Robert Loftis remixed and revised by Aaron Thomas-Bolduc, Richard Zach, forallx Calgary Remix: An Introduction to Formal Logic, Fall 2019. http://forallx.openlogicproject.org/forallxyyc.pdf
answered 7 hours ago
Frank HubenyFrank Hubeny
15.7k6 gold badges18 silver badges70 bronze badges
15.7k6 gold badges18 silver badges70 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
In formal logic, identity is a two-place predicate. It could be written Identical(x,y). It has the value true when x and y are numerically identical and false otherwise. As a matter of syntactic sugar, it is usually written as x=y, but it is still a two-place predicate. In first-order logic, at least, there is no need for an additional relation of equality, so we might say they are the same.
In mathematics, an additional complication arises. Mathematicians do not typically write formulas using the strict requirements of formal logic, In particular, they typically omit the quantifiers and take them as read. As a result, it may become ambiguous as to whether universal or existential quantification is implied. So, for example, a relationship like
x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
is implicitly existentially quantified, i.e. it is solvable for a particular value of x. On the other hand,
sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
is implicitly universally quantified, i.e. it holds for all x.
Mathematicians usually refer to the first as an equation and the latter as an identity relation. If we chose instead to write the formulas in a more strict fashion with the quantifiers made explicit, there would be no need for the distinction.
∃x. x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
∀x. sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
A possible exception might arise if you were to venture into the realm of intensional logics, where you might use equality to denote extensional equivalence, and identity for intensional equivalence.
add a comment
|
In formal logic, identity is a two-place predicate. It could be written Identical(x,y). It has the value true when x and y are numerically identical and false otherwise. As a matter of syntactic sugar, it is usually written as x=y, but it is still a two-place predicate. In first-order logic, at least, there is no need for an additional relation of equality, so we might say they are the same.
In mathematics, an additional complication arises. Mathematicians do not typically write formulas using the strict requirements of formal logic, In particular, they typically omit the quantifiers and take them as read. As a result, it may become ambiguous as to whether universal or existential quantification is implied. So, for example, a relationship like
x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
is implicitly existentially quantified, i.e. it is solvable for a particular value of x. On the other hand,
sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
is implicitly universally quantified, i.e. it holds for all x.
Mathematicians usually refer to the first as an equation and the latter as an identity relation. If we chose instead to write the formulas in a more strict fashion with the quantifiers made explicit, there would be no need for the distinction.
∃x. x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
∀x. sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
A possible exception might arise if you were to venture into the realm of intensional logics, where you might use equality to denote extensional equivalence, and identity for intensional equivalence.
add a comment
|
In formal logic, identity is a two-place predicate. It could be written Identical(x,y). It has the value true when x and y are numerically identical and false otherwise. As a matter of syntactic sugar, it is usually written as x=y, but it is still a two-place predicate. In first-order logic, at least, there is no need for an additional relation of equality, so we might say they are the same.
In mathematics, an additional complication arises. Mathematicians do not typically write formulas using the strict requirements of formal logic, In particular, they typically omit the quantifiers and take them as read. As a result, it may become ambiguous as to whether universal or existential quantification is implied. So, for example, a relationship like
x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
is implicitly existentially quantified, i.e. it is solvable for a particular value of x. On the other hand,
sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
is implicitly universally quantified, i.e. it holds for all x.
Mathematicians usually refer to the first as an equation and the latter as an identity relation. If we chose instead to write the formulas in a more strict fashion with the quantifiers made explicit, there would be no need for the distinction.
∃x. x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
∀x. sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
A possible exception might arise if you were to venture into the realm of intensional logics, where you might use equality to denote extensional equivalence, and identity for intensional equivalence.
In formal logic, identity is a two-place predicate. It could be written Identical(x,y). It has the value true when x and y are numerically identical and false otherwise. As a matter of syntactic sugar, it is usually written as x=y, but it is still a two-place predicate. In first-order logic, at least, there is no need for an additional relation of equality, so we might say they are the same.
In mathematics, an additional complication arises. Mathematicians do not typically write formulas using the strict requirements of formal logic, In particular, they typically omit the quantifiers and take them as read. As a result, it may become ambiguous as to whether universal or existential quantification is implied. So, for example, a relationship like
x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
is implicitly existentially quantified, i.e. it is solvable for a particular value of x. On the other hand,
sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
is implicitly universally quantified, i.e. it holds for all x.
Mathematicians usually refer to the first as an equation and the latter as an identity relation. If we chose instead to write the formulas in a more strict fashion with the quantifiers made explicit, there would be no need for the distinction.
∃x. x↑2 - 2x - 3 = 0
∀x. sin↑2 x + cos↑2 x = 1
A possible exception might arise if you were to venture into the realm of intensional logics, where you might use equality to denote extensional equivalence, and identity for intensional equivalence.
answered 6 hours ago
BumbleBumble
8,7422 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
8,7422 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
Thanks for contributing an answer to Philosophy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphilosophy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f67227%2fis-there-a-difference-between-equality-and-identity%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Just curious, is this related to a discussion ongoing on another forum?
– user4894
7 hours ago
@ user107952 Yes, there is a difference: Two cars of the same model may be "equal", but they are not "identical": At one time you can drive only one of them. "Equality" means that the relevant properties are "identical".
– Jo Wehler
18 mins ago