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Single Idea 19268

[filed under theme 10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / c. Possible but inconceivable ]

Full Idea

If we aim to derive impossibility from inconceivability, we may either face a failure to conceive something, or arrive at a state of incoherence in conceiving.

Gist of Idea

Inconceivability (implying impossibility) may be failure to conceive, or incoherence

Source

Anand Vaidya (Understanding and Essence [2010], 'Application')

Book Ref

-: 'Philosophia' [-], p.831


A Reaction

[summary] Thus I can't manage to conceive a multi-dimensional hypercube, but I don't even try to conceive a circular square. In both cases, we must consider whether the inconceivability results from our own inadequacy, rather than from the facts.


The 6 ideas with the same theme [possibe despite not being conceivable]:

Above and below us will never appear to be the same, because it is inconceivable [Epicurus]
What we cannot imagine may still exist [Leibniz]
Why pronounce impossible what you cannot imagine? [Dennett]
The conceivable can't be a test of the possible, if there are things which are possible but inconceivable [Scruton]
The apparently metaphysically possible may only be epistemically possible [Vetter]
Inconceivability (implying impossibility) may be failure to conceive, or incoherence [Vaidya]