Single Idea 16285

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

Full Idea

A novel describes a possible world in as much detail as is possible without exceeding the resources of the agent's language. But if talk of possible worlds seems dangerously metaphysical, focus on the novels themselves, when complete and consistent.

Gist of Idea

A possible world can be seen as a complete and consistent novel

Source

Richard Jeffrey (The Logic of Decision [1965], 12.8), quoted by David Lewis - On the Plurality of Worlds

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.142


A Reaction

Lewis seems to cite this remark from Jeffrey as the source of the idea that ersatz linguistic worlds are like novels. Why won't a novel with one tiny inconsistency count as a possible world? People seem to live in it.

Related Idea

Idea 16284 Ersatz worlds represent either through language, or by models, or magically [Lewis]