Combining Texts

Ideas for 'On Human Nature', 'From Metaphysics to Ethics' and 'Positions'

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3 ideas

10. Modality / A. Necessity / 3. Types of Necessity
We should not multiply senses of necessity beyond necessity [Jackson]
     Full Idea: We should not multiply senses of necessity beyond necessity.
     From: Frank Jackson (From Metaphysics to Ethics [1998], Ch.3)
     A reaction: It would be nice if there was just one sense of necessity, with the multiplication arising from the different ways in which necessities arise. In chess, checkmate is a necessity which rests on contingencies. Absolute necessities seem different.
10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 1. Possible Worlds / e. Against possible worlds
Mathematical sentences are a problem in a possible-worlds framework [Jackson]
     Full Idea: There is notoriously a problem about what to say concerning mathematical sentences within the possible-worlds framework.
     From: Frank Jackson (From Metaphysics to Ethics [1998], Ch.3 n25)
     A reaction: Presumably this concerns possible axioms and their combinations.
10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 2. Nature of Possible Worlds / a. Nature of possible worlds
Possible worlds could be concrete, abstract, universals, sentences, or properties [Jackson]
     Full Idea: Possible worlds might be concrete (Lewis), or abstract (Stalnaker), or structured universals (Forrest), or collections of sentences (Jeffrey), or mere combinations of properties and relations (Armstrong).
     From: Frank Jackson (From Metaphysics to Ethics [1998], Ch.1)
     A reaction: A helpful summary. I don't like concrete, or collections of sentences. Whatever they are, they had better be 'possible', so not any old collection or idea will do.