Modal Naturalism : Science and the Modal Facts / Amanda Bryant and Alastair Wilson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bryant, Amanda, author.

Wilson, Alastair, author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in metaphysics 2633-9862.

Elements in Metaphysics Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--Philosophy.

Science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (76 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, England : Cambridge University Press, [2024]

Summary:

"How do we know what is possible or impossible, what is inevitable or unattainable, or what would happen under which circumstances? Since modal facts seem distinctively mysterious and difficult to know, the epistemology of modality has historically been fraught with uncertainty and disagreement. The recent literature has been dominated by rationalist approaches that emphasise a priori reasoning (sometimes including direct intuition of possibility). Only recently have alternative approaches emerged which recognize a broader range of sources of modal knowledge. Yet even emerging non-rationalist views have tended to assign scientific investigation at best a supporting role. Our project in this Element is to develop and defend a new approach to the epistemology of modal facts which assigns a central role to scientific investigation. According to modal naturalism, science (construed broadly) is our primary source of evidence concerning the modal facts"-- Provided by publisher

Contents:

Introduction

Modal Inquiry, Naturalism, and Science

Modal Naturalism

Modal Empiricism

Counterfactual Accounts

Relatives of Modal Naturalism

Scientific Discoveries of Possibilities

Scientific Discoveries of Impossibilities

TheVirtues of Modal Naturalism

Conclusion

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 29 Nov 2024).

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781009351652

1009351656

9781009351669

1009351664

9781009351645

1009351648