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| layout | 863s2012 |
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Professor
~ David Sanson, 372 University Hall, sanson.7@osu.edu
Office hours: M 3:30-4:30, W 12:30-1:30, or by appointment
Webpage ~ http://davidsanson.com/863
This will be a seminar on modal metaphysics, loosely organized around four topics:
- Possible worlds;
- Counterpart theory and the Humphrey objection;
- Advanced modalizing;
- Essence and modality.
Along the way, we will read all of On the Plurality of Worlds.
What are possible worlds, why do we need them, and what do they have to do with modality? These familiar questions tend to structure much of the literature on modality, so we will begin with them.
According to counterpart theory, to say that Humphrey could have won the election is to say that someone similar to Humphrey in some similar election in some possible world. In a famous footnote in Naming and Necessity, Kripke objects:
Probably, however, Humphrey could not care less whether someone else, no matter how much resembling him, would have been victorious in another possible world.
Many have thought that there is something deeply right about what Kripke says. Others have thought that there is something deeply wrong about what Kripke says. Either way, it's worth thinking about.
Advanced modal claims are modal claims about possible worlds or the possible worlds framework, like the claim that the only possible worlds that could exist are the possible worlds that do exist. It is not clear whether or not such claims make sense, and, if they do, how to make sense of them.
Fine's "Essence and Modality" (1994) revitalized an old distinction between essence and necessity. Necessarily, Venus is distinct from Saturn, but, Fine says, it is no part of Venus's essence---no part of what it is to be Venus---that Venus is distinct from Saturn. So not all necessary properties are essential properties. And, taking things a step further, Fine suggests a reduction of all necessity to essence.
I've ordered,
- Lewis, David. 1986. On the Plurality of Worlds. Oxford: Blackwell.
Additional readings and resources will be made available via a shared Dropbox folder or something.
A seminar paper, maybe presentations.
Your papers must be your own work, and all sources must be cited. I will report offenders to the committee on academic misconduct. Academic misconduct can take on many forms: if you are confused, or need more guidance on this issue, ask. If you have not already, take a look at http://oaa.osu.edu/coam/faq
If you need (or may need) an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact me now to discuss your needs. I will work with the Office for Disability Services to coordinate reasonable accommodations for any student with a documented disability. http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/current-students/
Substance: man, horse Quantity: ten weeks long Quality: white, grammatical Relative: double, half, larger Where: in the Lyceum, in University Hall When: tuesdays, late Being in a position: is lying, is sitting Having: has shoes on, has armor on Acting on: cutting, burning Being affected: being cut, being burned