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Principles for Possibilia
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2010
Abstract
It seems to be an obvious truth that
(1) There could be something that doesn't actually exist.
That is, it seems to be obiously true that
(1a) ◊∃×(Actually ∼ (× exists)).
It is sufficient for the truth of (1) that there could be more people, or trees, or cars, than there actually are. It is also sufficient for the truth of (1) that there could be some pepole, or trees, or cars that are distinct from all those that actually exist. Do (1) and suchlike statements involve a commitment to possibilia, to things that possibly exist, but do not actually exist? If not, why not? And if so, what is the nature of the possibilia to which (1) and its ilk commit us? These simple little questions are at the tip of an iceberg.
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- Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy and the contributors 2002
References
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22 ‘E(ξ)’ is a first-level existence predicate. For anyone uneasy about its use, it would suffice for present purposes to replace it by ‘∃y(y=ξ)’, where the existential quantifier has the inner, actualist reading within modal operators. The points of the text still go through under this replacement.
23 This prima facie impression could be overturned if the opposing view could cite some other cases, outside issues of possibilia, that give us reason to reject (B). Considerations of uniform theory might then point in a different direction.
24 I thank Gideon Rosen and Timothy Williamson for stimulating discussions on modal matters, and to Justin Broackes and Kit Fine for valuable comments on an earlier draft of this paper.