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Full Idea
A non-actual state of affairs in possible if there actually was a substance capable of initiating a causal chain, perhaps non-deterministic, that could lead to the state of affairs that we claim is possible.
Gist of Idea
States of affairs are only possible if some substance could initiate a causal chain to get there
Source
Jonathan D. Jacobs (A Powers Theory of Modality [2010], §4.2)
Book Ref
-: 'Philosophical Studies' [-], p.12
A Reaction
[He is quoting A.R. Pruss 2002] That seems exactly right. Of course the initial substance(s) might create a further substance, such as a transuranic element, which then produces the state of affairs. I favour this strongly actualist view.
12463 | Unlike correspondence, truthmaking can be one truth to many truthmakers, or vice versa [Jacobs] |
14371 | We can base counterfactuals on powers, not possible worlds, and hence define necessity [Jacobs] |
12465 | Concrete worlds, unlike fictions, at least offer evidence of how the actual world could be [Jacobs] |
12464 | If some book described a possibe life for you, that isn't what makes such a life possible [Jacobs] |
14372 | Possible worlds are just not suitable truthmakers for modality [Jacobs] |
12466 | All modality is in the properties and relations of the actual world [Jacobs] |
14375 | If structures result from intrinsic natures of properties, the 'relations' between them can drop out [Jacobs] |
12467 | Powers come from concrete particulars, not from the laws of nature [Jacobs] |
14376 | States of affairs are only possible if some substance could initiate a causal chain to get there [Jacobs] |
14377 | Possibilities are manifestations of some power, and impossibilies rest on no powers [Jacobs] |
14378 | Science aims at identifying the structure and nature of the powers that exist [Jacobs] |
12469 | Possible worlds semantics gives little insight into modality [Jacobs] |
14379 | Counterfactuals invite us to consider the powers picked out by the antecedent [Jacobs] |