Single Idea 7869

[catalogued under 19. Language / C. Assigning Meanings / 8. Possible Worlds Semantics]

Full Idea

Basing content on possible worlds that result in truth leaves no room for thoughts about genuine impossibilities, since there are not possible worlds whose actuality would make an 'impossible thought' true.

Gist of Idea

Truth conditions in possible worlds can't handle statements about impossibilities

Source

David Papineau (Thinking about Consciousness [2002], 3.7)

Book Reference

Papineau,David: 'Thinking about Consciousness' [OUP 2004], p.88


A Reaction

Negative existentials like 'no rabbits in this room' and 'no snakes in this room' seem to have the same truth conditions as well. I suppose the sentences must be translated into a logical form which suits the theory, with negation stuck on the end.