Single Idea 18618

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 3. Combinatorial possibility]

Full Idea

It has been suggested that we could think of possibilities as recombinations of all the existing elements of reality.

Gist of Idea

Maybe possibilities are recombinations of the existing elements of reality

Source

Stephen Mumford (Metaphysics: a very short introduction [2012], 8)

Book Reference

Mumford,Stephen: 'Metaphysics: A Very Short Introduction' [OUP 2012], p.83


A Reaction

[Armstrong 1989 is the source] The obvious problem would be that the existence of an entirely different reality would be impossible, if this was all possibility could be. It seems to cramp the style of the possible too much. Are properties elements?