The theory of descriptions revisited (Q1121871)

From the author's abstract and introduction: ``An excursus is carried out through the principal steps in the development of the theory of descriptions (TD) from B. Russel until now, and its most important advantages and disadvantages are sketched. TD is studied in the context of model theory (in A. Robinson's style), taking preservation and classification theorems based on normal forms into consideration. Finally, the categorical formulation of TD in topos theory, starting from M. Fourman and D. Scott, is presented with reference to sheaves.'' ``Once upon a time TD was a paradigm of philosophy, today it is a chapter of model-theoretic algebra in the categorical framework.''