Nonexistence, Vague Existence, Merely Possible Existence
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Iris Einheuser [1]
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[1] Duke University
Duke University
Township of Durham, Estados Unidos
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- Localización: Disputatio, ISSN-e 0873-626X, Vol. 4, Nº. 33, 2012, págs. 427-443
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
This paper explores a new non-deflationary approach to the puzzle of nonexistence and its cousins. On this approach, we can, under a plausible assumption, express true de re propositions about certain objects that don't exist, exist indeterminately or exist merely possibly. The defense involves two steps: First, to argue that if we can actually designate what individuates a nonexistent target object with respect to possible worlds in which that object does exist, then we can express a de re proposition about "it". Second, to adapt the concept of outer truth with respect to a possible world – a concept familiar from actualist modal semantics – for use in representing the actual world.
