Reasoning foundations
Formalization
A precise representation of a statement in a defined language.
Definition
Formalization
Formalization expresses a claim or rule in a language with exact syntax and meaning.
The formal statement fixes details that ordinary prose may leave open. A check applies to that formal statement, not automatically to every possible reading of the source text.
01
Example
'The account cannot go below zero' can be formalized as balance ≥ 0 after every permitted transaction.
02
Important distinction
A correct check of a poor formalization does not establish the intended claim.
After reading this article, you should be able to
- Define Formalization in the sense used on this site.
- Explain why a checked formal model can still fail to represent its source correctly.