Aristotle's response to Quine's objections to modal logic
TL;DR: The thesis that Aristotle's predecessors had already formulated problems similar to the temporal puzzles so generated is demonstrated, and that the three most prominent reactions to Qume’s puzzles were also anticipated by certain ancient Greek philosophers.
Abstract: In Section II it is shown that some of the Quinean objections to modal logic found in [ 151 can be transferred to the notions used to describe and account for temporal change.’ The remainder of the paper is devoted to a demonstration of the thesis that Aristotle’s predecessors had already formulated problems similar to the temporal puzzles so generated, and that the three most prominent reactions to Qume’s puzzles were also anticipated by certain ancient Greek philosophers. Furthermore, Aristotle’s own reaction as manifested in his analysis of the elements of change in Physics A7 can be seen to involve concepts which easily lend themselves to the kind of semantical analysis which has recently enhanced our understanding of modality. Let us begin, then, by getting clear on just what problems I have in mind.
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01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: The case in which all functions from times to world-states are allowed is uninteresting; there are too many such functions, and the theory has not begun until we have begun to restrict them.
Abstract: Physics should have helped us to realise that a temporal theory of a phenomenon X is, in general, more than a simple combination of two components: the statics of X and the ordered set of temporal instants. The case in which all functions from times to world-states are allowed is uninteresting; there are too many such functions, and the theory has not begun until we have begun to restrict them. And often the principles that emerge from the interaction of time with the phenomena seem new and surprising. The most dramatic example of this, perhaps, is the interaction of space with time in relativistic space-time.
283 citations
Book•
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TL;DR: Aristotle's theory of truth has been the most influential account of the concept of truth from Antiquity onwards, spanning several areas of philosophy: philosophy of language, logic, ontology and epistemology as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Aristotle's theory of truth, which has been the most influential account of the concept of truth from Antiquity onwards, spans several areas of philosophy: philosophy of language, logic, ontology and epistemology. In this 2004 book, Paolo Crivelli discusses all the main aspects of Aristotle's views on truth and falsehood. He analyses in detail the main relevant passages, addresses some well-known problems of Aristotelian semantics, and assesses Aristotle's theory from the point of view of modern analytic philosophy. In the process he discusses most of the literature on Aristotle's semantic theory to have appeared in the last two centuries. His book vindicates and clarifies the often repeated claim that Aristotle's is a correspondence theory of truth. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers working in both ancient philosophy and modern philosophy of language.
71 citations
Book•
08 Oct 2007TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that this involves a philosophically problematic rupture within humanity which is, however, alleviated by the psychological similarities and points of contact between the two aspects of the self.
Abstract: Plotinus, the founder of the Neoplatonic school of philosophy, conceptualises two different notions of self (or 'us'): the corporeal and the rational. Personality and imperfection mark the former, while goodness and a striving for understanding mark the latter. In this text, Dr Remes grounds the two selfhoods in deep-seated Platonic ontological commitments, following their manifestations, interrelations and sometimes uneasy coexistence in philosophical psychology, emotional therapy and ethics. Plotinus' interest lies in what it means for a human being to be a temporal and a corporeal thing, yet capable of abstract and impartial reasoning, of self-government and perhaps even invulnerability. The book argues that this involves a philosophically problematic rupture within humanity which is, however, alleviated by the psychological similarities and points of contact between the two aspects of the self. The purpose of life is the cultivation of the latter aspect, the true self.
33 citations
TL;DR: There have recently appeared some studies in which Aristotle's views on science are related to modern philosophical issues and distinctions, some articles in which a return to at least some of his ideas is suggested as a solution to certain modern problems, and also some advocacy of the essentialism or modal realism associated with the Aristotelian tradition as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: There have recently appeared some studies in which Aristotle's views on science are related to modern philosophical issues and distinctions, some articles in which a return to at least some of his ideas is suggested as a solution to certain modern problems, and also some advocacy of the essentialism or modal realism that is historically associated with the Aristotelian tradition.
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01 Jan 1970
TL;DR: The present author has been noting the confusions, misdirections of emphasis, and duplications of effort current in studies of modal logic and is anxious to disseminate all kinds of valuable advice on the subject.
Abstract: Everyone knows how much more pleasant it is to give advice than to take it. Everyone knows how little heed is taken of all the good advice he has to offer. Nevertheless, this knowledge seldom restrains anyone, least of all the present author. He has been noting the confusions, misdirections of emphasis, and duplications of effort current in studies of modal logic and is, by now, anxious to disseminate all kinds of valuable advice on the subject. Thus he is very happy that the Irving meeting has provided such a suitable and timely forum and hopes that all this advice can provoke some useful discussion — at least in self-defense. The time really seems to be ripe for a fruitful development of modal logic, if only we take care to purify and simplify the foundations. A quite flexible framework is indeed possible: the old puzzles can be brushed aside, and one can begin to provide meaningful applications.
310 citations
249 citations