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Single Idea 16133

[from 'On the Plurality of Worlds' by David Lewis, in 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 1. Possible Worlds / b. Impossible worlds ]

Full Idea

If worlds were like stories or story-tellers, there would indeed be room for worlds according to which contradictions are true.

Gist of Idea

Possible worlds can contain contradictions if such worlds are seen as fictions

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 1.2 n3)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.7


A Reaction

Most existing fictions contain tiny contradictions, but we might ask whether that thereby disqualifies them from depicting genuinely 'possible' worlds.

Related Idea

Idea 16132 On mountains or in worlds, reporting contradictions is contradictory, so no such truths can be reported [Lewis]