Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'works (all lost)', 'Introduction to 'Modality'' and 'Primary Truths'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     specify just one area for these texts

2 ideas

10. Modality / A. Necessity / 1. Types of Modality
14528 Maybe modal thought is unavoidable, as a priori recognition of necessary truth-preservation in reasoning [Hale/Hoffmann,A]
     Full Idea: There are 'transcendental' arguments saying that modal thought is unavoidable - recognition, a priori, of the necessarily truth-preserving character of some forms of inference is a precondition for rational thought in general, and scientific theorizing.
     From: Bob Hale/ Aviv Hoffmann (Introduction to 'Modality' [2010], 1)
     A reaction: So the debate about the status of logical truths and valid inference, are partly debates about whether out thought has to involve modality, or whether it could just be about the actual world. I take possibilities and necssities to be features of nature.
12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 4. A Priori as Necessities
9155 An a priori proof is independent of experience [Leibniz]
     Full Idea: An a priori proof is a proof independent of experience.
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Primary Truths [1686])
     A reaction: Burge says Leibniz gave the first modern account of a priori knowledge. There may be no explicit reference to experience involved, but it would beg many questions to deny that implicit experience may be at the root of the proof.