Single Idea 14689

[catalogued under 10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 5. Modality from Actuality]

Full Idea

The real meanings of the simple modal terms 'necessary' and 'possible' are not the same as the concepts of actual necessity and actual possibility, necessity and possibility according to the actual world.

Gist of Idea

Necessity and possibility are not just necessity and possibility according to the actual world

Source

Nathan Salmon (The Logic of What Might Have Been [1989], IV)

Book Reference

Salmon,Nathan: 'Metaphysics, Mathematics and Meaning' [OUP 2005], p.143


A Reaction

If you were an 'actualist' (who denies everything except the actual world) then you are unlikely to agree with this. In unrestricted possible worlds, being true in one world makes it possible in all worlds. So actual necessity is possible everywhere.