more from Stephen Yablo

Single Idea 8864

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 7. Fictionalism]

Full Idea

It is not that the contents of sentences are inexpressible without quantifying over events, worlds, etc. (they aren't). But the logical relations become much more tractable if we represent them quantificationally.

Gist of Idea

We quantify over events, worlds, etc. in order to make logical possibilities clearer

Source

Stephen Yablo (Apriority and Existence [2000], §13)

Book Reference

'New Essays on the A Priori', ed/tr. Boghossian,P /Peacocke,C [OUP 2000], p.218


A Reaction

Yablo is explaining why we find ourselves committed to abstract objects. It is essentially, as I am beginning to suspect, a conspiracy of logicians. What on earth is 'the empty set' when it is at home? What's it made of?