Against Metaphysical Necessity

Modality and Belief Revision in Updated Logical Empiricism
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-3-8325-5921-2
Verlag: Logos Berlin

Buch, Englisch, 126 Seiten, PB, Format (B × H): 130 mm x 190 mm

One should not commit to metaphysical necessity; semantic modalities are enough. The best approaches to elucidate semantic modalities are versions of linguistic ersatzism and fictionalism, even if only developed in parts. Within these necessary properties and the difference between natural and semantic laws can be accounted for. The proper background theory for this is an updated version of Logical Empiricism. The anti-metaphysical attitude of Logical Empiricism deserves revitalization. The second part of the book illustrates a methodological observation from the first part: elucidating a concept can proceed by computational modelling. As an example, the book concerns modelling belief dynamics in the sense of building a computational model. The purpose is to illustrate some ideas about belief changes in a web of beliefs to explore and deepen one's understanding of belief changes by implementing corresponding algorithms. As a part of the model accepting conditionals and counterfactuals can be understood by versions of Ramsey Tests, i.e. again without modal commitments.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bremer, Manuel

Über Autor(innen)

Manuel Bremer works on the logical and conceptual foundations of the cognitive sciences. His book Än introduction to Paraconsistent Logics" (2005) was the first text book to introduce to all major schools of paraconsistent logics. His book "Concept and Analysis" (2013) employs a representationalist theory of concepts and reconsiders from this perspective Frege's conception of concepts and conceptual analysis in ordinary language philosophy.
Manuel Bremer taught philosophy at several universities, mainly the University of Duesseldorf, Germany.