back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12208

[from 'Two Kinds of Possibility' by Dorothy Edgington, in 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 6. Logical Necessity ]

Full Idea

Validity is governed by epistemic necessity, i.e. an argument is valid if and only if there is an a priori route from premises to conclusion.

Gist of Idea

An argument is only valid if it is epistemically (a priori) necessary

Source

Dorothy Edgington (Two Kinds of Possibility [2004], §V)


A Reaction

Controversial, and criticised by McFetridge and Rumfitt. I don't think I agree with her. I don't see validity as depending on dim little human beings.