Ideas from 'A Combinatorial Theory of Possibility' by David M. Armstrong [1989], by Theme Structure

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3. Truth / B. Truthmakers / 6. Making Negative Truths

15547

Negative existentials have 'totality facts' as truthmakers

			Full Idea: Armstrong offers 'totality facts' (complete states of affairs) as truthmakers for negative existentials, and for negated predications.
			From: report of David M. Armstrong (A Combinatorial Theory of Possibility [1989]) by David Lewis - Armstrong on combinatorial possibility 'The demand'

10. Modality / B. Possibility / 1. Possibility

15542

All possibilities are recombinations of properties in the actual world

			Full Idea: Armstrong's thesis is that recombination gives all the possibilities there are. There is no 'outer sphere' of possibilities wherein are found new and different universals alien to the actual world. No extra fundamental properties of fundamental particles.
			From: report of David M. Armstrong (A Combinatorial Theory of Possibility [1989]) by David Lewis - Armstrong on combinatorial possibility 'Combinatorialism'
			A reaction: I can't grasp what Armstrong's basis would be for such a claim. I surmise that current fundamental particles can only have the properties they currently have, but I can't see the impossibility of new stuff with new properties.