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Single Idea 13810

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

Full Idea

It is widely held that the source of de dicto necessity is in concepts, ..but I deny this... even with simple de dicto necessities, the source of the necessity is to be found in the properties to which the predicates of the de dicto truth refer.

Gist of Idea

The source of de dicto necessity is not concepts, but the actual properties of the thing

Source

Graeme Forbes (In Defense of Absolute Essentialism [1986], 3)

Book Ref

'Midwest Studs XI:Essentialism', ed/tr. French,Uehling,Wettstein [Minnesota 1986], p.11

A Reaction

It is normal nowadays to say this about de re necessities, but this is more unusual.

Related Ideas

Idea 12028 De re necessity is a form of conceptual necessity, just as de dicto necessity is [Forbes,G]

Idea 5732 'De re' modality is about things themselves, 'de dicto' modality is about propositions [Melia]

The 13 ideas with the same theme [necessity based on relations of concepts]:

24030 3+4=7 is necessary because we cannot conceive of seven without including three and four [Descartes]
18796 Formal experience conditions show what is possible, and general conditions what is necessary [Kant]
22018 Necessary truths derive from basic assertion and negation [Fichte, by Pinkard]
15216 Is conceptual necessity just conventional, or does it mirror something about nature? [Harré/Madden]
15235 There is a conceptual necessity when properties become a standard part of a nominal essence [Harré/Madden]
16422 The necessity of a proposition concerns reality, not our words or concepts [Stalnaker]
16423 Conceptual possibilities are metaphysical possibilities we can conceive of [Stalnaker]
13810 The source of de dicto necessity is not concepts, but the actual properties of the thing [Forbes,G]
12028 De re necessity is a form of conceptual necessity, just as de dicto necessity is [Forbes,G]
11169 Conceptual necessities rest on the nature of all concepts [Fine,K]
15087 Conceptual necessities are made true by all concepts [Hale]
12436 Concept-identities explain how we know necessities, not why they are necessary [Hale]
15033 Humeans says mathematics and logic are necessary because that is how our concept of necessity works [Sider]