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Single Idea 18855

[filed under theme 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 3. Combinatorial possibility ]

Full Idea

Combinatorial theories of possibility take it for granted ....that possible worlds in general share a syntax, as it were, differing only in the constituents from which they are generated, or in the particular manner of their arrangements.

Gist of Idea

Combinatorial theories of possibility assume the principles of combination don't change across worlds

Source

Gideon Rosen (The Limits of Contingency [2006], 08)

Book Ref

'Identity and Modality', ed/tr. MacBride,Fraser [OUP 2006], p.36

A Reaction

For instance, it might assume that every world has 'objects', to which 'properties' and 'relations' can be attached, or to which 'functions' can apply.

The 4 ideas with the same theme [possibilities are combinations of the actual]:

18618 Maybe possibilities are recombinations of the existing elements of reality [Mumford]
18619 Combinatorial possibility has to allow all elements to be combinable, which seems unlikely [Mumford]
18620 Combinatorial possibility relies on what actually exists (even over time), but there could be more [Mumford]
18855 Combinatorial theories of possibility assume the principles of combination don't change across worlds [Rosen]