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Single Idea 14652

[from 'World and Essence' by Alvin Plantinga, in 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 4. De re / De dicto modality ]

Full Idea

The idea of modality 'de re' is no more (although no less) obscure that the idea of modality 'de dicto'; for I think we can see that any statement of the former type is logically equivalent to some statement of the latter.

Gist of Idea

'De re' modality is as clear as 'de dicto' modality, because they are logically equivalent

Source

Alvin Plantinga (World and Essence [1970], Intro)

Book Reference

Plantinga,Alvin: 'Essays in the Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 2003], p.47


A Reaction

If two things are logically equivalent, that doesn't ensure that they are equally clear! Personally I am on the side of de re modality.