Quick and Easy Recipes for Hypergunk

Abstract

ABSTRACTI argue for the possibility of hypergunk: that is, it is possible that there exists an x such that every part of x has a proper part and, for any set S of parts of x, there is a set S′ of parts of x and S′ has strictly greater cardinality than S. Instead of beginning abstractly, as previous authors have done, I start with an independently interesting mathematical class—the surreal numbers. From this vantage point, I argue that hypergunk is no more mysterious, given the surreals, than ordinary gunk, given the reals. Given the cost of hypergunk for theories of possible worlds, this is meant to raise the stakes for those eager to dismiss hypergunk as mere metaphysical decadence.