Counterpossibles, story prefix and trivialism

In: Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science, Band 199, Heft 3-4, S. 7283-7301

Abstract

AbstractThe 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 fictionF,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.