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Invariantism about ‘can’ and ‘may’ (as well as ‘might’)

A response to Yanovich (2013)

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Abstract

Braun (Linguistics & Philosophy 35, 461–489, 2012) argued for a non- relativist, invariantist theory of ‘might’. Yanovich (Linguistics & Philosophy, 2013) argues that Braun’s theory is inconsistent with certain facts concerning diachronic meaning changes in ‘might’, ‘can’, and ‘may’. This paper replies to Yanovich’s objection.

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References

  • Braun, D. (2012). Invariantism about ‘might’ might be right. Linguistics and Philosophy, 35, 461–489.

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  • Lewis, D. (1976). The paradoxes of time travel. American Philosophical Quarterly, 13, 145–152. (Reprinted in Philosophical Papers, Vol. II, pp. 67–80, by D. Lewis, Ed., 1986, New York: Oxford University Press.)

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  • Portner, P. (2009). Modality. New York: Oxford University Press.

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  • Yanovich, I. (2013). Invariantist ‘might’ and modal meaning change. Linguistics and Philosophy. doi:10.1007/s10988_013_9133_5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 135 Park Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260-4150, USA

    David Braun

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  1. David Braun
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Correspondence to David Braun.

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Braun, D. Invariantism about ‘can’ and ‘may’ (as well as ‘might’). Linguist and Philos 36, 181–185 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10988-013-9135-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10988-013-9135-3

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