A harder dilemma for partial subjunctive supposition

Abstract

Abstract This article strengthens a dilemma posed by Eva and Hartmann (2021). They show that accounts of partial subjunctive supposition based on imaging sometimes violate a natural monotonicity condition. The paper develops a more general framework for modelling partial supposition and shows that, in this framework, imaging-based accounts of partial subjunctive supposition always violate monotonicity. In fact, the only account of partial supposition that satisfies monotonicity is the one that Eva and Hartmann defend for indicative suppositions. Insofar as one is committed to monotonicity, then, one cannot distinguish the indicative and subjunctive moods for partial supposition. One might avoid this result by rejecting the general framework that it relies upon, but that itself would be a surprising and interesting outcome.