Can I survive without my body? Undercutting the Modal Argument

The papers presented in this volume cover topics, such as the “phenomenal concept strategy,” to defend materialism from anti-materialist intuitions, the doctrine of representationalism about phenomenal character, the modal argument against materialism, the nature of demonstrative thought, and cognitive phenomenology. On the one hand, I argue that the phenomenal concept strategy cannot work and that representationalism has certain fatal flaws, at least if it’s to be joined to a materialist metaphysics. On the other, I defend materialism from the modal argument, arguing that it relies on a questionable conflation of semantic and metaphysical issues. I also provide a naturalistic theory of demonstrative thought, criticizing certain philosophical arguments involving that notion in the process. I argue as well that the peculiarly subjective nature of secondary qualities provides a window into the nature of the relation between phenomenal character and intentional content, and conclude that relation involves a robust notion of acquaintance.

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THE MODAL ARGUMENT FOR A PRIORI JUSTIFICATION

Ratio ◽

10.1111/j.1467-9329.2009.00425.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 191-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joachim Horvath

Keyword(s):

A Priori ◽

A Priori Justification ◽

Modal Argument

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Chapter Nine. Perfect Will Theology: A Modal Argument

Perfect Will Theology ◽

10.1163/ej.9789004182905.i-561.76 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 403-417

Keyword(s):

Modal Argument

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A Semantic Analysis of Personal Names in Datooga Society

Ethnologia Actualis ◽

10.2478/eas-2019-0011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 90-105

Author(s):

Mary Zacharia Charwi

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Semantic Analysis ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Analysis Data ◽

College Of Education ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Research Approach ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Personal Names ◽

Modal Argument

Abstract Naming can sometimes be associated with particular situations or someone’s birth. This study intends to find out the association between Datooga names and socio-cultural backgrounds. The study employs a qualitative research approach, in which case the collected data was subjected to descriptive analysis. Data have been collected from Datooga speaking students studying at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education, through Interviews and Questionnaire. The analysis is based on the Kripke’s three arguments in naming as described by Speaks (2007). The theory explains how naming is achieved with reference to the modal argument, the semantic argument and the epistemic argument. The findings of the study have revealed that in the Datooga society, naming is associated with different phenomena particularly time of birth and prevailing situations, traditions, norms and customs.

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A Non-Modal Argument

God, Suffering and Solipsism ◽

10.1007/978-1-349-20047-4_2 ◽

1989 ◽

pp. 15-22

Author(s):

Clement Dore

Keyword(s):

Modal Argument

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The Modal Argument is Not Circular

Faith and Philosophy ◽

10.5840/faithphil199815327 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 371-372

Author(s):

Richard Swinburne ◽

Keyword(s):

Modal Argument

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Oakes’ New Modal Argument for the Existence of God

New Scholasticism ◽

10.5840/newscholas19845844 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 447-459

Author(s):

Linda Zagzebski ◽

Keyword(s):

Existence Of God ◽

Modal Argument

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Hegel’s modal argument against Spinozism. An interpretation of the chapter ‘Actuality’ in theScience of Logic

Hegel Bulletin ◽

10.1017/hgl.2015.4 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 53-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Franz Knappik

Keyword(s):

Cosmological Argument ◽

Existence Of God ◽

Science Of Logic ◽

Modal Argument ◽

Critical Engagement ◽

Modal Metaphysics

AbstractI propose a new reading of Hegel’s discussion of modality in the ‘Actuality’ chapter of theScience of Logic. On this reading, the main purpose of the chapter is a critical engagement with Spinoza’s modal metaphysics. Hegel first reconstructs a rationalist line of thought — corresponding to the cosmological argument for the existence of God — that ultimately leads to Spinozist necessitarianism. He then presents a reductio argument against necessitarianism, contending that as a consequence of necessitarianism, no adequate explanatory accounts of facts about finite reality can be given.

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