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Single Idea 19275

[from 'Necessary Beings' by Bob Hale, in 1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 1. Nature of Metaphysics ]

Full Idea

I defend the thesis that questions about what kinds of things there are cannot be properly understood or adequately answered without recourse to considerations about possibility and necessity.

Gist of Idea

You cannot understand what exists without understanding possibility and necessity

Source

Bob Hale (Necessary Beings [2013], Intro)

Book Reference

Hale,Bob: 'Necessary Beings' [OUP 2013], p.1


A Reaction

Good. I would say that this is a growing realisation in contemporary philosophy. The issue is focused when we ask what are the limitations of Quine's approach to metaphysics. If you don't see possibilities around you, you are a fool.