Srećko Kovač

Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb
  • Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb
    Retired faculty
University of Zagreb
Alumnus, 1992
Zagreb, Croatia
Areas of Interest
Logic and Philosophy of Logic
  •  67
    Quine's Platonism and Antiplatonism
    Synthesis Philosophica 14 (1-2): 45-52. 1999.
    Quine rejects intensional Platonism and, with it, also rejects attributes (properties) as designations of predicates. He pragmatically accepts extensional Platonism, but conceives of classes as merely auxiliary entities needed to express some laws of set theory. At the elementary logical level, Quine develops an “ontologically innocent” logic of predicates. What in standard quantification theory is the work of variables is in the logic of predicates the work of a few functors that operate on pre…Read more
  •  63
    Logical opposition and collective decisions
    In Jean-Yves Béziau & Dale Jacquette (eds.), Around and Beyond the Square of Opposition, Springer. pp. 341--356. 2012.
    The square of opposition (as part of a lattice) is used as a natural way to represent different and opposite ways of who makes decisions, and in what way, in/for a group or a society. Majority logic is characterized by multiple logical squares (one for each possible majority), with the “discursive dilemma” as a consequence. Three-valued logics of majority decisions with discursive dilemma undecided, of veto, consensus, and sequential voting are analyzed from the semantic point of view. For insta…Read more
  •  58
    The totality of predicates and the possibility of the most real being
    Journal of Applied Logics - The IfCoLog Journal of Logics and Their Applications 5 (7): 1523-1552. 2018.
    We claim that Kant's doctrine of the "transcendental ideal of pure reason" contains, in an anticipatory sense, a second-order theory of reality (as a second-order property) and of the highest being. Such a theory, as reconstructed in this paper, is a transformation of Kant's metatheoretical regulative and heuristic presuppositions of empirical theories into a hypothetical ontotheology. We show that this metaphysical theory, in distinction to Descartes' and Leibniz's ontotheology, in many aspects…Read more
  •  57
    Stadler i Bauer o formalnoj logici
    Filozofska Istrazivanja 15 (3): 599-614. 1995.
    U tekstu se obrađuju Stadlerovo i Bauerovo shvaćanje i zasnivanje formalne logike. Formalna je logika u oba slučaja postavljena u duhu novoskolastičke filozofije druge polovice 19. stoljeća. Subjektivna je strana mišljenja (samosviest, djelatba) spojena s njegovom objektivnom stranom (objektivna vriednost), a logička se načela temelje na ontologijskim. Stadler se i Bauer oddvajaju od onodobnoga formalizma i logicizma, kao i od psihologizma i voluntarizma. Pritom je Bauer izrazitije ušao u razpra…Read more
  •  55
    Machines, Logic and Wittgenstein
    Philosophia 49 (5): 2103-2122. 2021.
    Wittgenstein’s “machines-as-symbols” are considered with respect to their historical sources and their symbolic and logical nature. Among these sources and precursors, along with Leonardo’s drawings of machines, there are illustrated “machine books”, a kind of book published in the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries which consist of pictures and descriptions of a variety of mechanical devices. Most probably, these books were one of Wittgenstein’s inspirations for his view of machines as …Read more
  •  50
    Mate Meršić (Merchich, 1850-1928) sees the origin of Zeno’s paradox ‘Achilles’ in the ambiguities of the concept of the infinity. According to him (and to the tradition started by Gregory St. Vincent), those ambiguities are resolved by the concept of convergent geometric series. In this connection, Meršić proposes a general ontological theory with the priority of the finite over the infinite, and, proceeding from Newton’s concept of fluxion, he develops a modal interpretation of differential cal…Read more
  •  50
    Logical Foundations and Kant's Principles of Formal Logic
    History and Philosophy of Logic 41 (1): 48-70. 2020.
    The abstract status of Kant's account of his ‘general logic’ is explained in comparison with Gödel's general definition of a formal logical system and reflections on ‘abstract’ (‘absolute’) concepts. Thereafter, an informal reconstruction of Kant's general logic is given from the aspect of the principles of contradiction, of sufficient reason, and of excluded middle. It is shown that Kant's composition of logic consists in a gradual strengthening of logical principles, starting from a weak princ…Read more
  •  44
    "The Bounds of Transcendental Logic" by D. Schulting, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan, 2022 (review)
    History and Philosophy of Logic 44 (1): 107-110. 2022.
    In the book, the decisive, foundational role of transcendental apperception for logic and transcendental philosophy in Kant is corroborated. The book contains many implicit connections with modern logic that could help a logician with a philosophical interest to gain a deeper insight into the origins and foundations of concepts such as object, truth, analyticity, identity, contradiction, judgment, existence, reference, quantification and others, as well as into the foundations and possible gener…Read more
  •  26
    Introduction to the Special Issue containing selected contributions to the conference "Formal Methods and Science in Philosophy IV", Inter-University Center, Dubrovnik, April 11-13, 2019.
  •  22
    Logika
    Hrvatska sveučilišna naklada, 15th edition, corrected and revised. 2016.
    The book contains an introduction to basic logical concepts and methods. It covers traditional logic of categorical judgment and syllogism, modern propositional logic, and introductory elements of predicate logic with corresponding methods (truth tables, natural deduction, truth trees).
  •  22
    Marijan Cipra (22. 8. 1940. – 2. 5. 2008.)
    Filozofska Istrazivanja 28 (2): 445-448. 2008.
    Obituary for Marijan Cipra, a most prominent Croatian philosopher. In his essential book "Metamorfoze metafizike" ("Metamorphoses of Metaphysics", 1978), he proposed a metaphysical foundations of the historical development of philosophy, based particularly on his in-depth study of Greek philosophy.
  •  21
    Faust Vrančić und der Aristotelismus in der Logik
    Studia Historiae Philosophiae Croaticae 2 229-252. 1993.
    Faust Vrančić's (Faustus Verantius, 1551-1617) logic is analyzed in comparison to Renaissance Aristotelianism in logic with regard to the problem of determining logic, the subject of logic, and understanding the method. Vrančić's logic is compared to Markantun de Dominis' understanding of logic and to the understanding of logic in Jacopo Zabarella and in the Jesuit Renaissance tradition (P. Fonseca, F. Toletus, F. Suárez). In addition, the concept of science is discussed. "Censura logicae" publ…Read more
  •  19
    Svojstva klasične logike [Properties of Classical Logic]
    Hrvatski studiji Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. 2013.
    The content for an advanced logic course is presented, which includes the properties of first-order logic language, soundness and completeness of the first-order logic deductive system, Peano arithmetic, Gödel's incompleteness theorems, higher-order logic and its properties. As a reminder, a brief description of first-order logic is included.
  •  17
    Impossibilities, identities, and belief
    Bulletin of Symbolic Logic 12 (3): 1079-8986. 2006.
  •  17
    The publication of Gödel’s Max IV contributes to better understanding of the complex development of Gödel’s philosophical thought, and, alongside the other published notebooks, it is a further contribution to modifying a conventional view on the 20th-century philosophy, where Gödel should be recognized as one of the most important and profound philosophers. Moreover, his questions, problem formulations, and ideas, particularly as presented in his philosophical notebooks, transcend the historical…Read more
  •  16
    This book is an introduction to elementary logic (classical propositional and first-order logic), comprising brief summaries of the basics of elementary logic, with the emphasis on typical questions and procedure descriptions and with a large number of corresponding exercises and problems. Solutions are given for each problem and exercise, often with commentaries. The first part, Basics of Logic, deals with (a) formal language, models, Venn diagrams for sentences, and translation from natural i…Read more
  •  16
    Dragišićeva logika [The logic of Georgius Benignus]
    with Mihaela Girardi-Karšulin
    In Erna Banić-Pajnić, Bruno Ćurko, Mihaela Girardi-Karšulin & Ivica Martinović (eds.), Juraj Dragišić: život i djela, Institute of Philosophy. pp. 51-78. 2016.
    It is shown, first, that Georgius Benignus [Juraj Dragišić, ca 1445-1520] at the end of the 15th century almost fully disposed with the theory of the fourth syllogistic figure. Prantl's view on Benignus' logic is critically examined. Besides, Benignus' doctrines on the supposition of terms and logical consequences are examined with respect to his two versions of logic (1488/1489 and 1519) and to the main influences (e.g., Strodus, Paulus Venetus, Ferebrich, Paulus Pergolensis). A reduction of th…Read more
  •  16
    Faust Vrančić i aristotelizam u logici [Faustus Verantius and Aristotelianism in Logic]
    Prilozi Za Istrazivanje Hrvatske Filozofske Baštine 17 (1-2): 17-33. 1988.
    Faust Vrančić's (Faustus Verantius, 1551-1617) logic is analyzed in comparison to Renaissance Aristotelianism in logic with regard to the problem of determining logic, the subject of logic, and understanding the method. Vrančić's logic is compared to Markantun de Dominis' understanding of logic and to the understanding of logic in Jacopo Zabarella and in the Jesuit Renaissance tradition (P. Fonseca, F. Toletus, F. Suárez). In addition, the concept of science is discussed. "Censura logicae" publ…Read more
  •  15
    In memoriam Zlatko Posavac (1931–2019)
    Prilozi Za Istrazivanje Hrvatske Filozofske Baštine 45 (2). 2019.
    Zlatko Posavac is one of the most thorough and deepest experts on Croatian cultural history, with a focus on aesthetics both as a theory and as realized in artistic practice. On the basis of his improved factography, he examines aesthetic phenomena through the model of meaningful-stylistic structures and epochal change. As one of the fundamental phenomena, he highlights the "prevention of free transmission of tradition" (silencing, falsifying, expulsion of truth). He introduces significant struc…Read more
  •  13
    We approach the traditional problem of the relationship between opinion and truth, objects and appearances, from the standpoint and tools of logic of belief, combining an informal and technical approach. We describe and comment on some logics of individual concepts and modes of representation, and address the question of how to explain the possibility of a contradictory de re belief integrated with the corresponding non-contradictory de dicto belief. The QB logic is proposed, where the semantic …Read more
  •  12
    O izvorima i temeljima formalizacije [On the origins and foundations of formalization]
    In Gabriela Bašić-Hanžek, Ljudevit Hanžek & Dario Škarica (eds.), Radovi Znanstvenog centra "Berislav Žarnić", University of Split - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. pp. 13-28. 2022.
    It is shown in what sense essential characteristics of formalism, which is normative for exact knowledge, can be found already in Aristotle. It is described how exactness and formalism are pre-conditioned by sensible intuition. The machine character (Turing machine) of a formalism is considered. The general concept of provability leads to an expanding and dynamic understanding of a formalism, with the final source of logical patterns in the "forms of life" (Wittgenstein).
  •  11
    The Identity and Continuity of Croatian Philosophy
    Prilozi Za Istrazivanje Hrvatske Filozofske Baštine 48 (2): 287-304. 2022.
    After delineating the corpus of Croatian philosophy, the historical and conceptual identity and continuity of Croatian philosophy are analysed with respect to several aspects: (1) the historical space and time of Croatian philosophy; (2) its socio-cultural role and character (educational, linguistic and national-political); (3) its traditions and interconnections; and (4) the idea of Croatian philosophy. Special attention is paid to the difference between Franjo pl. Marković’s views on Croatian …Read more
  •  10
    Priručnik uz "Logiku" (Manual for the textbook "Logic")
    Hrvatska sveučilišna naklada. 2004.
    The booklet provides teachers and others who use the textbook "Logic" by Srećko Kovač with basic theoretical and philosophical ideas about logic as a discipline, as well as practical instructions on how to use the textbook.
  •  9
    Berislav Žarnić (1959 - 2017)
    Prolegomena: Journal of Philosophy 16 (1): 75-82. 2017.
    Obituary for Berislav Žarnić, an outstanding, internationally influential, Croatian logician and philosopher. His main contributions are in logic of practical inference, logic of imperatives, logic of norms and philosophy of education.
  •  8
    Goran Švob (1947–2013) in memoriam
    Prilozi Za Istrazivanje Hrvatske Filozofske Baštine 40 (1): 345-348. 2014.
    Goran Švob was an influential Croatian logician and philosopher or language. According to him, logic should be based on a theory of meaning, propositions and truth, and, in its core, is inseparable from central philosophical questions. Švob was especially inspired by Frege's early logical philosophy. According to Švob, the concept of identity should include naming and knowledge and has self-identity of objects as its "degenerate" case.
  •  7
    Im Folgenden stellen wir drei aktuelle Forschungsbereiche zur formalen Logik bei Kant allgemeinverständlich dar und greifen dabei auf die trans zendentale Logik nur dann zurück, wenn sie ein besseres Verständnis der formalen Logik ermöglicht: Zunächst wird Kants Beitrag zur Rezeption und Weiterentwicklung von Euler-artigen Diagrammen dargestellt. Diese Diagramme wurden in den 1990er Jahren wiederentdeckt, als formales System interpretiert und werden heute insbes. in der Didaktik, in den Kognitio…Read more
  •  6
    Teorijska filozofija na Zagrebačkoj akademiji 1776-1850 [Theoretic philosophy at the Zagreb Academy 1776-1850]
    Prilozi Za Istrazivanje Hrvatske Filozofske Baštine 16 (1-2): 23-39. 1990.
    The Zagreb Royal Academy, the successor of the former Jesuit Neoacademy, was founded in 1776 as the central institution of higher education in Croatia as part of the educational reform in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After presenting the basic characteristics of the reform concept, the paper deals with the teaching of theoretical philosophy at the Zagreb Academy. Philosophy was taught by E. Raffay, A. Minković, G. Valičić, S. Čučić, S. Pogledić, S. Moyses, and S. Muzler until the abolition of th…Read more
  • Bertram Kienzle (Hrsg.): Zustand und Ereignis (review)
    Synthesis Philosophica 11 469-470. 1996.
  • A reconstruction of a formal logical deduction of Kant's table of judgments and of the other forms of Kant's "general logic" is proposed on the basis of Kant's texts, remarks and lectures. Logical unity of apperception is taken as the starting point and the reconstructed deduction proceeds only by means of analytic judgments. In distinction to Klaus Reich's approach, the forms of judgment are not derived from the definition of a judgment as relation, but "regressively", starting from quantity, …Read more