Combining Texts

Ideas for 'works', 'Causality and Properties' and 'Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro'

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2 ideas

10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / a. Conceivable as possible

15764	'Conceivable' is either not-provably-false, or compatible with what we know? [Shoemaker]
	Full Idea: We could use 'conceivable' to say it is not provable that it is not the case, or we could use it to say that it is compatible with what we know.
	From: Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §10)
	A reaction: Rather significant, since the first one would seem to allow in a great deal that the second one would rule out. Any disproof of some natural possibility founders on the remark that 'you never know'.

10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / b. Conceivable but impossible

8562	It is possible to conceive what is not possible [Shoemaker]
	Full Idea: It is possible to conceive what is not possible.
	From: Sydney Shoemaker (Causality and Properties [1980], §10)
	A reaction: The point here is that, while we cannot clearly conceive the impossible in a world like mathematics, we can conceive of impossible perceptions in the physical world, such as a bonfire burning under water.