Single Idea 15030

[catalogued under 10. Modality / C. Sources of Modality / 1. Sources of Necessity]

Full Idea

The spirit of Humeanism is that necessity is not a realm to be discovered. We draw the lines around what is necessary.

Gist of Idea

Humeans say that we decide what is necessary

Source

Theodore Sider (Writing the Book of the World [2011], 12.3)

Book Reference

Sider,Theodore: 'Writing the Book of the World' [OUP 2011], p.274


A Reaction

I disagree, but it is hard to argue the point. My intuitions are that the obvious necessities of logic and mathematics reflect the way nature has to be. The deepest necessities are patterns (about which God has no choice).