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Single Idea 15087

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

Full Idea

Conceptual necessities can be taken to be propositions which are true in virtue of the nature of all concepts.

Gist of Idea

Conceptual necessities are made true by all concepts

Source

Bob Hale (Absolute Necessities [1996], p.9)

Book Ref

-: 'Philosophical Perspectives' [-], p.9


A Reaction

Fine endorse essences for these concepts. Could we then come up with a new concept which contradicted all the others, and destroyed the necessity? Yes, presumably. Presumably witchcraft and astrology are full of 'conceptual necessities'.


The 8 ideas from 'Absolute Necessities'

Maybe not-p is logically possible, but p is metaphysically necessary, so the latter is not absolute [Hale]
A strong necessity entails a weaker one, but not conversely; possibilities go the other way [Hale]
'Relative' necessity is just a logical consequence of some statements ('strong' if they are all true) [Hale]
Metaphysical necessity says there is no possibility of falsehood [Hale]
'Broadly' logical necessities are derived (in a structure) entirely from the concepts [Hale]
Absolute necessity might be achievable either logically or metaphysically [Hale]
Logical necessities are true in virtue of the nature of all logical concepts [Hale]
Conceptual necessities are made true by all concepts [Hale]