Single Idea 16422

[catalogued under 10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 4. Necessity from Concepts]

Full Idea

The necessity or contingency of a proposition has nothing to do with our concepts or the meanings of our words. The possibilities would have been the same even if we had never conceived of them.

Gist of Idea

The necessity of a proposition concerns reality, not our words or concepts

Source

Robert C. Stalnaker (Conceptual truth and metaphysical necessity [2003], 1)

Book Reference

Stalnaker,Robert C.: 'Ways a World Might Be' [OUP 2003], p.203


A Reaction

This sounds in need of qualification, since some of the propositions will be explicitly about words and concepts. Still, I like this idea.