Single Idea 16286

[catalogued under 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 2. Nature of Possible Worlds / b. Worlds as fictions]

Full Idea

There are two difficulties with Carnap's taking possible worlds as linguistic. Everything must have a name, or our state-descriptions will be silent about nameless things, and nothing may have two names, or we may affirm and deny a predicate of one thing.

Gist of Idea

Linguistic possible worlds need a complete supply of unique names for each thing

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 3.2)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.145


A Reaction

The idea of possible worlds as linguistic has no appeal for me, so this problem doesn't surprise or bother me, but it sounds fairly terminal for the project.