Single Idea 5735

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 8. Facts / a. Facts]

Full Idea

Some philosophers think that any fact can be captured in a language containing only names and predicates.

Clarification

Predicates attribute properties to things

Gist of Idea

Maybe names and predicates can capture any fact

Source

Joseph Melia (Modality [2003], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Melia,Joseph: 'Modality' [Acumen 2003], p.21


A Reaction

The problem case Melia is discussing is modal facts, such as 'x is possible'. It is hard to see how 'possible' could be an ordinary predicate, but then McGinn claims that 'existence' is, and that there are some predicates with unusual characters.