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Full Idea
The very notion of necessity makes sense to me only relative to context. Typically it is applied to what is assumed in an inquiry, as against what has yet to transpire.
Gist of Idea
Necessity is relative to context; it is what is assumed in an inquiry
Source
Willard Quine (Intensions Revisited [1977], p.121)
Book Ref
Quine,Willard: 'Theories and Things' [Harvard 1981], p.121
A Reaction
Lots of things are assumed by an inquiry without an assumption that they must be true. Quine is the greatest opponent of necessity in all of philosophy. Asserting necessities, though, is too much fun to give up. It would ruin philosophy.
| 13589 | Possible worlds are a way to dramatise essentialism, and yet they presuppose essentialism [Quine] |
| 13588 | A rigid designator (for all possible worlds) picks out an object by its essential traits [Quine] |
| 13591 | Quantified modal logic collapses if essence is withdrawn [Quine] |
| 13590 | Essences can make sense in a particular context or enquiry, as the most basic predicates [Quine] |
| 8483 | Necessity is relative to context; it is what is assumed in an inquiry [Quine] |
| 13592 | Beliefs can be ascribed to machines [Quine] |