Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Lectures 1930-32 (student notes)' and 'Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these texts

display all the ideas for this combination of texts

---

2 ideas

10. Modality / A. Necessity / 10. Impossibility

3946	A thing is shown to be impossible if a contradiction is demonstrated within its definition [Berkeley]
	Full Idea: A thing is shown to be impossible when a repugnancy is demonstrated between the ideas comprehended in its definition.
	From: George Berkeley (Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous [1713], II p.214)
	A reaction: The problem is always that imagination is needed to see the 'repugnancy', and that is relative and limited.

10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 3. Necessity by Convention

18726	For each necessity in the world there is an arbitrary rule of language [Wittgenstein]
	Full Idea: To a necessity in the world there corresponds an arbitrary rule in language.
	From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Lectures 1930-32 (student notes) [1931], B XIV.2)
	A reaction: This seems to be hardcore logical positivism, making all necessities arbitrary. Compare Quine on the number of planets.