Single Idea 14578

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 1. Possibility]

Full Idea

Possibility could be just logical possibility (as involving no formal contradictions), or recombinations of all the existing elements (Armstrong), or truth in other concrete worlds (Lewis).

Gist of Idea

Possibility might be non-contradiction, or recombinations of the actual, or truth in possible worlds

Source

S.Mumford/R.Lill Anjum (Getting Causes from Powers [2011], 8.4)

Book Reference

Anjum,R.J./Mumford,S.: 'Getting Causes from Powers' [OUP 2011], p.179


A Reaction

All wrong, I would say. Well, avoiding contradiction is obviously a sense of 'possible'. Armstrong is wrong. It rules out new 'elements' being possible, and implies impossible combinations of the current ones. As for Lewis...