Combining Texts

Ideas for 'works', 'Interview with Philippa Foot' and 'The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism'

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2 ideas

10. Modality / A. Necessity / 5. Metaphysical Necessity
Metaphysical necessity holds between things in the world and things they make true [Ellis]
     Full Idea: Metaphysical necessitation is the relation that holds between things in the world and the things they make true.
     From: Brian Ellis (The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism [2009], 1)
     A reaction: Not sure about that. It implies that it is sentences that have necessity, and he confirms it by calling it 'a semantic relation'. So there are no necessities if there are no sentences? Not the Brian Ellis we know and love.
10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 1. Sources of Necessity
Metaphysical necessities are those depending on the essential nature of things [Ellis]
     Full Idea: A metaphysically necessary proposition is one that is true in virtue of the essential nature of things.
     From: Brian Ellis (The Metaphysics of Scientific Realism [2009], 6)
     A reaction: It take this to be what Kit Fine argues for, though it tracks back to Aristotle. I also take it to be correct, though one might ask whether there are any other metaphysical necessities, ones not depending on essences.