Naturalised Modal Epistemology and Quasi-Realism
South African Journal of Philosophy 40 (3):229-241 (2021)
Abstract
Given quasi-realism, the claim is that any attempt to naturalise modal epistemology would leave out absolute necessity. The reason, according to Simon Blackburn, is that we cannot offer an empirical psychological explanation for why we take any truth to be absolutely necessary, lest we lose any right to regard it as absolutely necessary. In this paper, I argue that not only can we offer such an explanation, but also that the explanation won’t come with a forfeiture of the involved necessity. Using ‘squaring the circle’ as evidence, I show that, contrary to quasi-realism, absolute necessity won’t be left out in attempts to naturalise modal epistemology.
Keywords
Categories
(categorize this paper)
PhilPapers/Archive ID
OMONME
Upload history
Added to PP index
2021-04-13
Total views
70 ( #57,748 of 69,986 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
48 ( #17,465 of 69,986 )
2021-04-13
Total views
70 ( #57,748 of 69,986 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
48 ( #17,465 of 69,986 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.