Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Essays on Intellectual Powers: Conception', 'The Mind in Nature' and 'On the Conservation of Force'

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2 ideas

10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / b. Conceivable but impossible
11958 Impossibilites are easily conceived in mathematics and geometry [Reid, by Molnar]
     Full Idea: Reid pointed out how easily conceivable mathematical and geometric impossibilities are.
     From: report of Thomas Reid (Essays on Intellectual Powers 4: Conception [1785], IV.III) by George Molnar - Powers 11.3
     A reaction: The defence would be that you have to really really conceive them, and the only way the impossible can be conceived is by blurring it at the crucial point, or by claiming to conceive more than you actually can
10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 1. Possible Worlds / c. Possible worlds realism
15472 It is pointless to say possible worlds are truthmakers, and then deny that possible worlds exist [Martin,CB]
     Full Idea: To claim that the truthmaker for a counterfactual, for example, is a set of possible worlds, but to deny that these worlds really exist, seems pointless.
     From: C.B. Martin (The Mind in Nature [2008], 03.3)
     A reaction: Lewis therefore argues that they do exist. Martin argues that possible worlds are not truthmakers. He rests his account of modality on dispositions. I prefer Martin.