more from John P. Burgess

Single Idea 15415

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / D. Modal Logic ML / 7. Barcan Formula]

Full Idea

In temporal logic, if the converse Barcan formula holds then nothing goes out of existence, and the direct Barcan formula holds if nothing ever comes into existence. These results highlight the intuitive absurdity of the Barcan formulas.

Gist of Idea

The temporal Barcan formulas fix what exists, which seems absurd

Source

John P. Burgess (Philosophical Logic [2009], 2.9)

Book Reference

Burgess,John P.: 'Philosophical Logic' [Princeton 2009], p.37


A Reaction

This is my reaction to the modal cases as well - the absurdity of thinking that no actually nonexistent thing might possibly have existed, or that the actual existents might not have existed. Williamson seems to be the biggest friend of the formulas.