more from Crispin Wright

Single Idea 12189

[catalogued under 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 6. Logical Necessity]

Full Idea

Wright espouses a non-realist, indeed non-cognitive account of logical necessity. Crucial to this is the idea that acceptance of a statement as necessary always involves an element of decision (to use it in a necessary way).

Clarification

'Non-cognitive' means no knowable fact is involved

Gist of Idea

Logical necessity involves a decision about usage, and is non-realist and non-cognitive

Source

report of Crispin Wright (Inventing Logical Necessity [1986]) by Ian McFetridge - Logical Necessity: Some Issues §3

Book Reference

-: 'Aristotelian Society' [], p.149


A Reaction

This has little appeal to me, as I take (unfashionably) the view that that logical necessity is rooted in the behaviour of the actual physical world, with which you can't argue. We test simple logic by making up examples.