modest possibilism - snafuhome.snafu.de/erich/3rdphis.pdf · (1) this desk is wooden. (2) sherlock...

PHIS Conference 2004 Erich Rast, Modest Possibilism - p. 1/17

Modest Possibilism

Winter 2004

Erich Rast

http://akira.ruc.dk/~erast/

Roskilde University

erast@ruc.dk

Introduction

➲ Topics of this Talk

➲ Argument Structure

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Introduce the following notions:

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Introduce the following notions:● Actualism

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Introduce the following notions:● Actualism● Meinongian Possibilism

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Introduce the following notions:● Actualism● Meinongian Possibilism● Modest Possibilism

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Discuss the following entities:

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Discuss the following entities:● Round Squares

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Discuss the following entities:● Round Squares● Caesar

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Discuss the following entities:● Round Squares● Caesar● Sherlock Holmes

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Discuss the following entities:● Round Squares● Caesar● Sherlock Holmes● A Halluzinated Oasis

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Discuss the following entities:● Round Squares● Caesar● Sherlock Holmes● A Halluzinated Oasis● Elves and Dwarfes in Iceland

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Draw the conclusion:

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Topics of this Talk

▲ Draw the conclusion:● We should all be modest possibilists.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Argument Structure

For the thesis that various notions of existence shouldbe used, I argue in the following way:

▲ The existence of some sort X of objects is establishedby a set of criteria K1.

▲ The existence of some sort Y of objects is establishedby a set of criteria K2.

▲ If the criteria differ K1 6= K2, then there should be twodifferent notions of existence for X and Y respectively.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Argument Structure

This argument is directed against Quine (1948):

“To be is to be the value of a bound variable.”

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Argument Structure

Quine’s dictum is to be supplemented by Rast (2004):

“To exist is to have the property of being exis-tent in a certain way.”

Introduction

Possibilism

➲ Actualism versus

Possibilism➲ Actuality

➲ Two Arguments Against

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Possibilism

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Actualism versus Possibilism

(1) This desk is wooden.

(2) Sherlock Holmes is a detective.

(3) Round squares are round.

Example Actualist Modest Possibilist Meinongian

1 ✔ ✔ ✔

2 ✗ ✔ ✔

3 ✗ ✗ ✔

✔=can be true

Given that: Sherlock Holmes and round squares do notactually exist.

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Actuality

Actuality the totality of what is being given;the Given; what is Dawider (Kant); what youcan physically interact with

Rule of Thumb: If you can bump against it, then itactually exists.

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Two Arguments Against RoundSquares

① Refutation by Inconsistency (Russell 1905)“Logical Argument”

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ Talking of objects only make sense if somenon-negative, simple predicative statement aboutthem can be veridical.

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ ¬P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ ¬P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ That’s a contradiction. The system is inconsistent!(contradictio ad absurdum)

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ ¬P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

② Refutation by Inconstructibility“Ontological Argument”

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ ¬P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ Objects that are both perfectly round and square havenever been observed.

Introduction

Possibilism

Round Squares

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ ¬P ( ι

x(Px ∧ ¬Px))

▲ Objects that are both perfectly round and square havenever been observed.

▲ There exists no method to construct such objects.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

➲ Temporal Possibilia

➲ Fictional Objects

➲ Doxastic Objects

➲ Shared Doxastic Objects

Résumée

Sorts of Possibilia

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Temporal Possibilia

(4) Caesar crossed the Rubicon.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Temporal Possibilia

▲ Temporal possibilia take part in actuality, but notnow.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Temporal Possibilia

▲ Past objects: We reconstruct them by their traces.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Temporal Possibilia

▲ Future objects: We wait until we can observe them.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Temporal Possibilia

▲ Future objects: We wait until we can observe them.

Existence Criterion An object exists temporally (=as atemporal possibilium) iff it has existed actually or will existactually.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Fictional Objects

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Fictional Objects

▲ Even if some real Sherlock Holmes existed, theSherlock Holmes of Conan Doyle’s writings would stillbe a fictional entity. (ambiguous proper names)

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Fictional Objects

▲ In case of doubt, we consult the stories.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Fictional Objects

▲ Fictional objects can be regarded as large descriptionsextracted from a written or spoken corpus.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Fictional Objects

▲ Identity: Fictional objects usually differ from eachother if they have different names (ignoring differencesin spelling or translation).

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Fictional Objects

▲ Identity: Fictional objects usually differ from eachother if they have different names (ignoring differencesin spelling or translation).

Existence Criterion An object exists fictionally iff it is notbelieved to exist actually, has been invented, and there’s ashared corpus describing it.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Doxastic Objects

(6) Wanderer in the desert pointing to the south: An oasis!

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Doxastic Objects

▲ What the wanderer believes to be in the south isrelevant for explaining his behavior.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Doxastic Objects

▲ Both linguistic and extralinguistic behavior is relevantfor confirming that a person believes something.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Doxastic Objects

▲ Likewise, the existence of a doxastic object isextrapolated from the agent’s behavior.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Doxastic Objects

▲ Doxastic objects can be regarded as bundles ofproperties: the properties that the believer attributesto the alleged object.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Doxastic Objects

▲ Doxastic objects can be regarded as bundles ofproperties: the properties that the believer attributesto the alleged object.

Existence Criterion An object exists according to a per-son’s belief iff the person believes that the object has suchand such properties, among them the property to exist ac-tually.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

Shared Doxastic Objects

(7) Icelanders: Elves have large ears.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ Shared doxastic objects are like doxastic objects,except that the constituting beliefs are shared.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ There may be no general agreement on how theexistence of an object is established.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ But of course the shared doxastic object exists‘doxastically’ for all people that believe that it actuallyexists.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ Shared doxastic objects are extrapolated from thebehavior of a group of people.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

▲ Shared doxastic objects are extrapolated from thebehavior of a group of people.

Existence Criterion An object exists according to the be-liefs of some persons iff the persons believe that the objecthas such and such properties, among them the propertyto exist actually.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

Actualism➲ Modest Possibilism

➲ The End

Résumée

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Some General Arguments AgainstActualism

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

▲ Reality comprises more than actuality:

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

▲ Reality comprises more than actuality:● Past objects are not reducible to actuality.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

▲ Reality comprises more than actuality:● Past objects are not reducible to actuality.● Different criteria for establishing existence indicate

different ontic realms.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

different ontic realms.● Fictional existence even presupposes actual

non-existence.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

non-existence.

▲ Actualism is not expressive enough:

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

non-existence.

▲ Actualism is not expressive enough:● Actualists cannot properly compare and evaluate

richer ontologies; they must resort to evasive modesof talking.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

non-existence.

● Extreme nominalism is not feasible. (Instantiationand compresence relations are needed.)

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

non-existence.

● Logical positivism has failed to give an account fortheoretical entities like electrons.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

non-existence.

● Logical positivism has failed to give an account fortheoretical entities like electrons.

▲ Actualism is based on the prejudice that all otherontic realms can be reduced to actuality.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

▲ The domain contains possibilia as long as they don’thave contradictory properties.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

▲ To each sort of objects corresponds an existencepredicate.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

▲ To each existence predicate corresponds a set ofcriteria for establishing existence.

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

▲ There may be meaning postulates between differentkinds of existence (see fictional objects).

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

▲ The (possibilist) quantifiers mean nothing, they onlyserve as a means for defining relativized quantifiers.∧

xA := ∀x(Ex ⊃ A)

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

xA := ∀x(Ex ⊃ A)

▲ Requirement: All objects in the domain are in theextension of some existence predicate.E1 ∪ E2 ∪ . . . ∪ En = D

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Modest Possibilism

xA := ∀x(Ex ⊃ A)

▲ Requirement: All objects in the domain are in theextension of some existence predicate.E1 ∪ E2 ∪ . . . ∪ En = D

▲ The various ontic realms have to be explored in abranch of formal ontology, Meinong’sGegenstandstheorie (theory of objects).

Introduction

Possibilism

Sorts of Possibilia

Résumée

➲ Some General

Arguments Against

➲ The End

Santa Clause Exists!

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