Do We Need Propositions?

Disputatio 11 (52):1-8 (2019)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Trenton Merricks argues that we need propositions to serve as the premises and conclusions of modally valid arguments (Merricks 2015). A modally valid argument is an argument in which, necessarily, if the premises are true, then the conclusion is also true. According to Mer- ricks, the premises and conclusions of modally valid arguments have their truth conditions essentially, and they exist necessarily. Sentences do not satisfy these conditions. Thus, we need propositions. Merricks’ argument adds a new chapter to the longstanding debate over the exis- tence of propositions. However, I argue that Merricks’ argument does not quite succeed. Merricks has overlooked one viable alternative to pos- tulating propositions. However, this alternative employs the relation of being true-at-a-world, which is difficult to analyze. Thus, the soundness of Merricks’ argument ultimately depends on the comparative merits of accepting propositions as abstract entities, versus accepting truth-at-a- world as an unanalyzed relation between sentences and possible worlds.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Summary.Trenton Merricks - 2017 - Analysis 77 (2):357-359.
Propositions.Trenton Merricks - 2015 - Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Imagination, Truth and Rationality.A. B. Palma - 1983 - Philosophy 58 (223):29 - 38.
From Necessary Truth to Necessary Existence.Joshua Rasmussen - 2013 - Polish Journal of Philosophy 7 (1):19-30.
The Logic of Contingent Existence.Daniel Michael Kervick - 1997 - Dissertation, University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Explanatory Role of Propositions.Peter Hanks - 2017 - Analysis 77 (2):370-379.
The Eternal Existence of True Propositions.Mark Steven Roberts - 1987 - Dissertation, University of Dallas
Fate, freedom and contingency.Ferenc Huoranszki - 2002 - Acta Analytica 17 (1):79-102.
Personal identity and psychological continuity.Michael C. Rea & David Silver - 2000 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 61 (1):185-194.
Logical Consequence.J. C. Beall, Greg Restall & Gil Sagi - 2019 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Faith and the Existence of God.R. G. Swinburne - 1988 - Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement 24:121-143.

Analytics

Added to PP
2019-06-23

Downloads
39 (#356,630)

6 months
1 (#1,040,386)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Gordon Barnes
State University of New York (SUNY)

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Propositions.Trenton Merricks - 2015 - Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Propositions.Matthew McGrath - 2008 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Add more references