Ideas from 'The Barcan Formula and Metaphysics' by Ori Simchen [2013], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Theoria' (ed/tr -) [- ,]].

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4. Formal Logic / D. Modal Logic ML / 7. Barcan Formula
The Barcan Formulas express how to combine modal operators with classical quantifiers
                        Full Idea: The Barcan Formula and its converse gives expression to the most straightforward way of combining modal operators with classical quantification.
                        From: Ori Simchen (The Barcan Formula and Metaphysics [2013], §1)
The Barcan Formulas are orthodox, but clash with the attractive Actualist view
                        Full Idea: The Barcan Formulas are a threat to 'actualism' in modal metaphysics, which seems regrettable since the Formulas are validated by standard modal logics, but clash with the plausible and attractive actualist view (that there are no merely possible things).
                        From: Ori Simchen (The Barcan Formula and Metaphysics [2013], §1)
                        A reaction: He notes that the Barcan Formulas 'appear to require quantification over possibilia'. So are you prepared to accept the 'possible elephant in your kitchen'? Conceptually yes, but actually no, I would have thought. So possibilia are conceptual.
BF implies that if W possibly had a child, then something is possibly W's child
                        Full Idea: In accordance with the Barcan Formula we assume that if it is possible that Wittgenstein should have had a child, then something or other is possibly Wittgentein's child.
                        From: Ori Simchen (The Barcan Formula and Metaphysics [2013], §5)
                        A reaction: Put like this it sounds unpersuasive. What is the something or other? Someone else's child? A dustbin? A bare particular? Wittgenstein's child? If it was the last one, how could it be Wittgenstein's child while only possibly being that thing?
10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 1. Possible Worlds / d. Possible worlds actualism
Serious Actualism says there are no facts at all about something which doesn't exist
                        Full Idea: Serious Actualism is the view that in possible circumstances in which something does not exist there are no facts about it of any kind, including its very non-existence
                        From: Ori Simchen (The Barcan Formula and Metaphysics [2013], §1 n4)
                        A reaction: He suggests that the Converse Barcan Formula implies this view. It sounds comparable to the view of Presentism about time, that no future or past truthmakers exist right now. If a new square table were to exist, it would have four corners.