Ideas from 'Noneism or Allism?' by David Lewis [1990], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' by Lewis,David [CUP 1999,0-521-58787-5]].

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5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 4. Substitutional Quantification

15533

We can quantify over fictions by quantifying for real over their names

			Full Idea: Substitutionalists simulate quantification over fictional characters by quantifying for real over fictional names.
			From: David Lewis (Noneism or Allism? [1990], p.159)
			A reaction: I would say that a fiction is a file of conceptual information, identified by a label. The label brings baggage with it, and there is no existence in the label.

5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 7. Unorthodox Quantification

15534

We could quantify over impossible objects - as bundles of properties

			Full Idea: We can quantify over Meinongian objects by quantifying for real over property bundles (such as the bundle of roundness and squareness).
			From: David Lewis (Noneism or Allism? [1990], p.159)

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 1. Nature of Existence

15532

'Allists' embrace the existence of all controversial entities; 'noneists' reject all but the obvious ones

			Full Idea: An expansive friend of the controversial entities who says they all exist may be called an 'allist'; a tough desert-dweller who says that none of them exist may be called a 'noneist'.
			From: David Lewis (Noneism or Allism? [1990], p.152)
			A reaction: Lewis gives examples of the obvious and the controversial entities. Lewis implies that he himself is in between. The word 'desert' is a reference to Quine.

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 2. Types of Existence

15535

We can't accept a use of 'existence' that says only some of the things there are actually exist

			Full Idea: If 'existence' is understood so that it can be a substantive thesis that only some of the things there are exist, we will have none of it.
			From: David Lewis (Noneism or Allism? [1990], p.163)
			A reaction: Lewis is a strong advocate, following Quine, of the univocal sense of the word 'exist', and I agree with them.