The Nature of NecessityThis is a reissue of a book which is an exploration and defence of the notion of modality 'de re', the idea that objects have both essential and accidental properties. It is one of the first full-length studies of the modalities to emerge from the debate to which Saul Kripke, David Lewis, Ruth Marcus and others have contributed. The argument is developed by means of the notion of possible worlds, and ranges over key problems including the nature of essence, trans-world identity, negative existential propositions, and the existence of unactual objects in other possible worlds. In the final chapters Professor Plantinga applies his logical theories to the clarification of two problems in the philosophy of religion - the Problem of Evil and the Ontological Argument. |
Contents
I Preliminary Distinctions and Remarks | 1 |
Objections | 14 |
Explanations | 27 |
IV Worlds Books and Essential Properties | 44 |
V The Necessity Of Natures | 70 |
VI Transworld Identity Or Worldbound Individuals? | 88 |
The Classical Argument | 121 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept According Accordingly action actual world affairs answer applied argument assertion attribute believe Chapter claim clearly complement composite conclusion consider consistent contains context contingent Counterpart Theory course created Curley denotation dicto distinct doubt entails equivalent essence essentialist essentially everything exactly example exemplified existential expresses fact follows former function further furthermore give given greater hence hold idea identical identified impossible includes individuals instance instantiated lacks latter least less look maximal means modal logic modality natural necessarily false necessarily true necessary necessity notion object obtained perhaps person philosopher planets plausible possible world predicates present presumably problem proper names proposition question Quine reason reference relation respect result seems semantics sense sentence singular term snubnosed Socrates exists statement suggest suppose taken thing transworld truth understand world W