A chance for possibility : an investigation into the grounds of modality / Alexander Steinberg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Steinberg, Alexander, 1979-

Series:

Philosophische Analyse ; Bd. 51.

Philosophische analyse / philosophical analysis ; 51

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Modality (Logic).

Possibility.

Realism.

Supervenience (Philosophy).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (276 p.)

Place of Publication:

Boston : De Gruyter, [2013]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

A Chance for Possibility defends the view that the objective modal realm is tripartite: truths about possible worlds supervene on modal truths, which in turn supervene on truths about objective chances. An understanding of supervenience in terms of grounding is developed which - unlike the standard modal characterization - allows the question of what modal truths supervene on to have a non-trivial answer. Relying on this understanding, a negative result is established: modal truths do not supervene on truths about possible worlds, whether possible worlds are conceived of as Lewisian concreta or as abstract objects of some kind. Instead, a conception of pleonastic possible worlds is developed that reverses the direction of supervenience. On the basis of linguistic considerations concerning our use of natural language 'might' and 'might have' sentences, Steinberg finally argues that truths about objective chances are able to provide a supervenience base for modal truths. A Chance for Possibility is an investigation in analytic metaphysics, drawing on related work in the philosophy of logic and language as well as linguistics. It provides a detailed case study for the fruitful use of a notion of grounding in the clarification and evaluation of longstanding philosophical issues.

Contents:

Front matter

Acknowledgements

Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Supervenience

Chapter 3. Concrete Possible Worlds

Chapter 4. Abstract Possible Worlds

Chapter 5. Possibility and Probability

Chapter 6. Conclusion

Appendix A. Non-Nominal Quantification

Name Index

Bibliography

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed December 19, 2013).

ISBN:

9783110338232

3110338238

OCLC:

862940168