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Single Idea 8261

[filed under theme 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 3. Types of Necessity ]

Full Idea

It might be metaphysically necessary that p but logically possible that not-p, so that metaphysical necessity is not, after all, absolute.

Gist of Idea

Maybe not-p is logically possible, but p is metaphysically necessary, so the latter is not absolute

Source

Bob Hale (Absolute Necessities [1996]), quoted by E.J. Lowe - The Possibility of Metaphysics 1.5

Book Ref

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.16

A Reaction

Lowe presents this as dilemma, but it sounds fine to me. Flying pigs etc. have no apparent logical problems, but I can't conceive of a possible world where pigs like ours fly in a world like ours. Earthbound pigs may be metaphysically necessary.

The 26 ideas with the same theme [different ways in which things must be]:

1690 A stone travels upwards by a forced necessity, and downwards by natural necessity [Aristotle]
21389 Carneades distinguished logical from causal necessity, when talking of future events [Long on Carneades]
21362 Necessity is physical, logical, mathematical or moral [Schopenhauer, by Janaway]
9442 The only necessity is logical necessity [Wittgenstein]
13576 Necessities are distinguished by their grounds, not their different modalities [Ellis]
6987 We should not multiply senses of necessity beyond necessity [Jackson]
15291 There is 'absolute' necessity (implied by all propositions) and 'relative' necessity (from what is given) [Harré/Madden]
16466 Strong necessity is always true; weak necessity is cannot be false [Stalnaker]
14680 Logical possibility contains metaphysical possibility, which contains nomological possibility [Salmon,N]
9205 The three basic types of necessity are metaphysical, natural and normative [Fine,K]
15079 'Conceptual' necessity is narrow logical necessity, true because of concepts and logical laws [Lowe]
16533 Logical necessities, based on laws of logic, are a proper sub-class of metaphysical necessities [Lowe]
8261 Maybe not-p is logically possible, but p is metaphysically necessary, so the latter is not absolute [Hale]
15081 A strong necessity entails a weaker one, but not conversely; possibilities go the other way [Hale]
15080 'Relative' necessity is just a logical consequence of some statements ('strong' if they are all true) [Hale]
13721 'Strong' necessity in all possible worlds; 'weak' necessity in the worlds where the relevant objects exist [Sider]
19286 'Absolute necessity' is when there is no restriction on the things which necessitate p [Hale]
19288 Logical and metaphysical necessities differ in their vocabulary, and their underlying entities [Hale]
19290 Absolute necessities are necessarily necessary [Hale]
7800 Analytic truths are divided into logically and conceptually necessary [Girle]
4646 Is 'events have causes' analytic a priori, synthetic a posteriori, or synthetic a priori? [Baggini /Fosl]
9482 If the laws necessarily imply p, that doesn't give a new 'nomological' necessity [Bird]
13244 Relevant necessity is always true for some situation (not all situations) [Beall/Restall]
10933 Physical possibility is part of metaphysical possibility which is part of logical possibility [Rami]
14703 Superficial necessity is true in all worlds; deep necessity is thus true, no matter which world is actual [Schroeter]
14532 A distinctive type of necessity is found in logical consequence [Rumfitt, by Hale/Hoffmann,A]