ENGLISH

Modality (Central Problems of Philosophy)

Book information

Publisher
Acumen
Year
2003
ISBN
0773524819, 9780773524811
Open Library ID
OL15579210M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
1014 kB (1038082 bytes)
Edition
First Edition
Pages
199\199
Scanned
no
Time added
2012-02-04 16:00:00

Description

This introduction to modality places the emphasis on the metaphysics of modality rather than on the formal semetics of quantified modal logic. The text begins by introducing students to the "de re/de dicto" distinction, conventionalist and conceptualist theories of modality and some of the key problems in modality, particularly Quine's criticisms. It then moves on to explain how possible worlds provide a solution to many of the problems in modality and how possible worlds themselves have been used to analyse notions outside modality such as properties and propositions. Possible worlds introduce problems of their own and the book argues that to make progress with these problems a theory of possible worlds is required. The pros and cons of various theories of possible worlds are then examined in turn, including those of Lewis, Kripke, Adams, Stalnaker and Plantinga.

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