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Single Idea 15139

[filed under theme 4. Formal Logic / D. Modal Logic ML / 7. Barcan Formula ]

Full Idea

The converse Barcan is at least plausible, since its denial says there is something that could fail to meet a condition when everything met that condition; but how could everything meet that condition if that thing did not?

Gist of Idea

Converse Barcan: could something fail to meet a condition, if everything meets that condition?

Source

Timothy Williamson (Truthmakers and Converse Barcan Formula [1999], §3)

Book Ref

-: 'Dialectica' [-], p.264


A Reaction

Presumably the response involves a discussion of domains, since everything in a given domain might meet a condition, but something in a different domain might fail it.

Related Ideas

Idea 15132 The Barcan formulas fail in models with varying domains [Kripke, by Williamson]

Idea 15135 If the domain of propositional quantification is constant, the Barcan formulas hold [Williamson]


The 12 ideas from 'Truthmakers and Converse Barcan Formula'

If metaphysical possibility is not a contingent matter, then S5 seems to suit it best [Williamson]
A thing can't be the only necessary existent, because its singleton set would be as well [Williamson]
The truthmaker principle requires some specific named thing to make the difference [Williamson]
If the domain of propositional quantification is constant, the Barcan formulas hold [Williamson]
Not all quantification is objectual or substitutional [Williamson]
Substitutional quantification is metaphysical neutral, and equivalent to a disjunction of instances [Williamson]
If 'fact' is a noun, can we name the fact that dogs bark 'Mary'? [Williamson]
Our ability to count objects across possibilities favours the Barcan formulas [Williamson]
Converse Barcan: could something fail to meet a condition, if everything meets that condition? [Williamson]
Truthmaker is incompatible with modal semantics of varying domains [Williamson]
The converse Barcan formula will not allow contingent truths to have truthmakers [Williamson]
Not all quantification is either objectual or substitutional [Williamson]