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Single Idea 8562

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

Full Idea

It is possible to conceive what is not possible.

Gist of Idea

It is possible to conceive what is not possible

Source

Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §10)

Book Ref

Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.231

A Reaction

The point here is that, while we cannot clearly conceive the impossible in a world like mathematics, we can conceive of impossible perceptions in the physical world, such as a bonfire burning under water.