Reforging the Great Chain of Being

Studies of the History of Modal Theories

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Metaphysics
Cover of the book Reforging the Great Chain of Being by , Springer Netherlands
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9789401576628
Publisher: Springer Netherlands Publication: March 14, 2013
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9789401576628
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication: March 14, 2013
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

A sports reporter might say that in a competition all the participants realize their potentialities or possibilities. When an athlete performs far below his usual standard, it can be said that it was possible for him to do better. But the idea of fair play requires that this use of 'possible' refers to another com­ petition. It is presumed that the best athlete wins and that no real possibility of doing better is left unrealized in a competition. Here we have a use of language, a language game, in which modal notions are used so as to imply that if something is possible, it is realized. This idea does not belong to the general presuppositions of current ordinary usage. It is, nevertheless, not difficult to fmd other similar examples outside of the language of sports. It may be that such a use of modal notions is sometimes calculated to express that in the context in question there are no real alternative courses of events in contradistinction to other cases in which some possible alternatives remain unrealized. Even though modal notions are currently interpreted without the presup­ position that each genuine possibility should be realized at some moment of the actual history, there are contemporary philosophical models of modalities which incorporate this presupposition. In his book Untersuchungen tiber den Modalkalkiil (Anton Hain, Meisenheim am Glan 1952, pp. 16-36), Oscar Becker presents a statistical interpretation of modal calculi.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A sports reporter might say that in a competition all the participants realize their potentialities or possibilities. When an athlete performs far below his usual standard, it can be said that it was possible for him to do better. But the idea of fair play requires that this use of 'possible' refers to another com­ petition. It is presumed that the best athlete wins and that no real possibility of doing better is left unrealized in a competition. Here we have a use of language, a language game, in which modal notions are used so as to imply that if something is possible, it is realized. This idea does not belong to the general presuppositions of current ordinary usage. It is, nevertheless, not difficult to fmd other similar examples outside of the language of sports. It may be that such a use of modal notions is sometimes calculated to express that in the context in question there are no real alternative courses of events in contradistinction to other cases in which some possible alternatives remain unrealized. Even though modal notions are currently interpreted without the presup­ position that each genuine possibility should be realized at some moment of the actual history, there are contemporary philosophical models of modalities which incorporate this presupposition. In his book Untersuchungen tiber den Modalkalkiil (Anton Hain, Meisenheim am Glan 1952, pp. 16-36), Oscar Becker presents a statistical interpretation of modal calculi.

More books from Springer Netherlands

Cover of the book Issues in Clinical Epileptology: A View from the Bench by
Cover of the book The Infra-red Spectra of Complex Molecules by
Cover of the book Green Communications and Networks by
Cover of the book Functional Genomics and Evolution of Photosynthetic Systems by
Cover of the book Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 1990 by
Cover of the book Environmental Security of the European Cross-Border Energy Supply Infrastructure by
Cover of the book The Evaluation of New Antiarrhythmic Drugs by
Cover of the book Recarbonization of the Biosphere by
Cover of the book Operative Techniques in Liver Resection by
Cover of the book Semiconductor Technologies in the Era of Electronics by
Cover of the book Topic-Focus Articulation, Tripartite Structures, and Semantic Content by
Cover of the book Ore Deposit Geology and its Influence on Mineral Exploration by
Cover of the book Paraphrase Grammars by
Cover of the book Acta Historiae Neerlandicae/Studies on the History of the Netherlands VI by
Cover of the book Silicone Oil in Vitreoretinal Surgery by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy