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Single Idea 11166

[filed under theme 10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 1. Sources of Necessity ]

Full Idea

We naturally suppose, if a subject-predicate proposition is necessary, that the subject of the proposition is the source of the necessity. But that singleton 2 contains 2 is necessary, whether the number or the set is the subject of the proposition.

Gist of Idea

The subject of a proposition need not be the source of its necessity

Source

Kit Fine (Essence and Modality [1994], p. 9)

Book Ref

-: 'Philosophical Perspectives' [-], p.9

A Reaction

A very nice addition to his general attack on the idea that essence should be accounted for in terms of his necessity. He asks a beautifully simple question: for each necessity that we accept, what is the source of that necessity?

The 21 ideas from 'Essence and Modality'

16537 Essence as necessary properties produces a profusion of essential properties [Fine,K, by Lowe]
10935 An essential property of something must be bound up with what it is to be that thing [Fine,K, by Rami]
10936 Essential properties are part of an object's 'definition' [Fine,K, by Rami]
11151 An object is dependent if its essence prevents it from existing without some other object [Fine,K]
11152 Essences are either taken as real definitions, or as necessary properties [Fine,K]
11159 My account shows how the concept works, rather than giving an analysis [Fine,K]
11157 Modern philosophy has largely abandoned real definitions, apart from sortals [Fine,K]
11160 Simple modal essentialism refers to necessary properties of an object [Fine,K]
11158 Essentialist claims can be formulated more clearly with quantified modal logic [Fine,K]
11161 Essentially having a property is naturally expressed as 'the property it must have to be what it is' [Fine,K]
11162 Socrates is necessarily distinct from the Eiffel Tower, but that is not part of his essence [Fine,K]
11163 The nature of singleton Socrates has him as a member, but not vice versa [Fine,K]
11164 It is not part of the essence of Socrates that a huge array of necessary truths should hold [Fine,K]
11165 If Socrates lacks necessary existence, then his nature cannot require his parents' existence [Fine,K]
11168 Metaphysical necessities are true in virtue of the nature of all objects [Fine,K]
11166 The subject of a proposition need not be the source of its necessity [Fine,K]
11167 Metaphysical necessity is a special case of essence, not vice versa [Fine,K]
11169 Conceptual necessities rest on the nature of all concepts [Fine,K]
11170 Analytic truth may only be true in virtue of the meanings of certain terms [Fine,K]
11172 The meaning of 'bachelor' is irrelevant to the meaning of 'unmarried man' [Fine,K]
11171 Defining a term and giving the essence of an object don't just resemble - they are the same [Fine,K]