Abstract
The aim of this paper is to argue in favor of the view that some counterpossibles are false. This is done indirectly by showing that accepting the opposite view, i.e., one that ascribes truth to each and every counterpossible, results in the claim that every necessarily false theory has exactly the same consequences. Accordingly, it is shown that taking every counterpossible to be true not only undermines the value of debates over various alternative theories and their consequences, but also puts into question the very possibility of such debates. In order to explicate this thesis, the close bond between counterpossibles and the so-called story prefix (i.e., the sentential operator ‘According to fiction F, P’) is explored. A number of possible responses to this criticism are also presented, and it is argued that none of them address the main problem.
Highlights
Counterpossibles are subjunctive conditionals of the form ‘If it were/had been the case that A, it would be the case that C’ (‘A > C’), where ‘A’ expresses impossibility
The aim of this paper is to argue in favor of the view that some counterpossibles are false
The second is to argue that the mere truth of every counterpossible does not prove that every necessarily false theory turns into trivialism
Summary
The popular examples of counterpossibles—such as (1)–(4) above—may suggest that the question of their truth-values is somewhat peripheral, and how one handles such examples should not be a factor that tips the scale in favor one or another view on counterfactuals. Since a belief in different truth-values for propositions such as (1) and (2) usually results in radical changes of what is considered the default analysis of counterfactuals (e.g., commitments to impossible worlds), these changes may not seem worth the effort. It seems that one could ignore folk insights about the falseness of some counterpossibles without significant loss for the analysis of counterfactuals in general. The difference here is that while counterfactuals with merely possible antecedents help us understand contingent aspects of reality, counterpossibles help us understand necessary truths, which are usually considered the subject of mathematics, logic, metaphysics or semantics. Accepting ORT undermines the value of debates over various alternative theories and their consequences, but—as is argued below— puts into question the very possibility of such debates
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