Single Idea 16522

[catalogued under 10. Modality / D. Knowledge of Modality / 4. Conceivable as Possible / a. Conceivable as possible]

Full Idea

It is hard or impossible to conceive of Caesar's not being a man (human).

Gist of Idea

It is hard or impossible to think of Caesar as not human

Source

David Wiggins (Sameness and Substance [1980], 4.5)

Book Reference

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance' [Blackwell 1980], p.117


A Reaction

So is it 'hard' or is it 'impossible'? Older generations of philosophers simply didn't read enough science fiction. Any short story could feature Caesar's failure to be a man. His assassination was a disaster for the Martian invasion of 44 BCE.