Single Idea 9212

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 1. Possibility]

Full Idea

Possible states of affairs have often been taken to be propositions, but this cannot be correct, since any possible state of affairs is possibly a state of affairs, but no proposition is possibly a state of affairs.

Gist of Idea

Possible states of affairs are not propositions; a proposition can't be a state of affairs!

Source

Kit Fine (The Problem of Possibilia [2003], 2)

Book Reference

'The Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics', ed/tr. Loux,M /Zimmerman,D [OUP 2005], p.163


A Reaction

The point is, presumably, that the state of affairs cannot be the proposition itself, but (at least) what the proposition refers to. I can't see any objection to that.