Modal Platonism and the Problem of Negativity

Matthew Tugby

doi:10.1007/s10670-017-9898-y

Abstract

The Platonic account of modality says, roughly, that truths about alien possibilities are grounded in uninstantiated universals. Recently, Ingram has raised a problem for this kind of view, which is that it apparently requires negative facts to play a truthmaking role. Ingram offers an alternative Platonic account which makes use of modal instantiation relations. In this paper, I highlight some of the costs of Ingram’s new account and argue that a more appealing version of Platonism—and modal theory in general—is one that is supplemented with an ontology of totality facts.

Highlights

In a recent article, Ingram (2016) has rightly questioned how a Platonist can provide truthmakers for truths about what is merely possible
Ingram has an alternative Platonic account of modality to offer, which says that truths about what is possible are determined by ‘modal instantiation’ relations
The theory of negativity that I shall recommend to Platonists— and modal theorists in general—is one which appeals to totality facts

Summary

Introduction

In a recent article, Ingram (2016) has rightly questioned how a Platonist can provide truthmakers for truths about what is merely possible. Ingram has an alternative Platonic account of modality to offer, which says that truths about what is possible are determined by ‘modal instantiation’ relations On this modified theory, the truth that something might have been F is made true by the. In this paper I shall consider ways of defending an alternative approach for Platonists like me to deal with the problem that Ingram raises This is worthwhile because, as we shall see, the modal instantiation proposal faces problems of its own. The theory of negativity that I shall recommend to Platonists— and modal theorists in general—is one which appeals to totality facts (more on this below) This solution should be attractive to those who, like me, favour the idea that all truths have truthmakers. My aim in this paper is to cast doubt on these conclusions

The Problem of Negativity

Ingram’s Modal Instantiation Approach

Ingram’s Strategy and the Totality Strategy Compared

Conclusion