The Foundations of Modality: From Propositions to Possible Worlds

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Peter Fritz (Professor of Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University and University of Oslo)

The Foundations of Modality

From Propositions to Possible Worlds

Peter Fritz (Professor of Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University and University of Oslo)

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English

Oxford University Press
25 January 2024

Philosophy of language; Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy: logic

The notions of necessity and possibility, as well as the notion of a possible world, are ubiquitous in philosophy. Nevertheless, these notions remain controversial. It also remains controversial whether metaphysics requires notions drawing distinctions which are finer than those which can be drawn in terms of necessity and possibility, such as the recently much-discussed notion of grounding. In order to make progress on these debates, this book develops a general framework for theorizing about such intensional notions using the tools of higher-order logic. The Foundations of Modality begins by motivating the use of higher-order logic, and introduces a particularly simple form of higher-order logic. Progress is made on well-trodden territory concerning modality and possible worlds by considering first the question how fine propositions are individuated. Peter Fritz uses both logical results and philosophical arguments to motivate a relatively coarse-grained individuation of propositions. Fritz shows that a number of putative metaphysical notions are ruled out by this theory of individuation. Furthermore, the theory allows the controversial notion of (metaphysical) necessity to be delineated as the broadest necessity, which applies just to the single tautologous proposition. This book also vindicates appeals to possible worlds: First, it shows that if anything plays the theoretical role of possible worlds, then certain propositions do so. Second, it argues that there are in fact the required propositions playing the role of possible worlds; this is shown using the notion of plural quantification over propositions in higher-order logic.

By: Peter Fritz (Professor of Philosophy Professor of Philosophy Australian Catholic University and University of Oslo)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 145mm, Width: 147mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 404g
ISBN: 9780192870025
ISBN 10: 0192870025
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 25 January 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction Part One: Language 1: Breaking the Domination of the Word 2: A Formal Language Part Two: Identity 3: Attitudes andStructuredPropositions 4: Classicism Part Three: Necessity 5: Metaphysical Necessity 6: Actuality, Distinctness, and Possibility Part Four: Worlds 7: A Theory of Possible Worlds 8: Plural Propositional Quantification Part Five: Conclusion 9: A Coarse-Grained World-View 10: Looking Ahead Bibliography List of Notation Index

Peter Fritz is Professor of Philosophy at the Dianoia Institute of Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University, and at the Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas at the University of Oslo. He studied philosophy and logic at the Universities of Konstanz, Amsterdam, and Oxford, and works on logic, metaphysics, and the philosophy of language.