((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate In _ Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals Alvin Plantinga 1976]: “Actualism and Possible Worlds”. David Lewis : On the Plurality of Worlds. So if in modal realism we have countless merely possible things, then in Plantinga we have countless entities of merely possible things.ġ. This is a non-qualitative (haecceitistic) property that is necessarily instantiated by an object x exactly when x is Holmes. Plantinga must accept Sherlock Holmes as an irreducible abstract entity. We also want to talk not only about worlds, but also about their inhabitants. Plantinga thus already assumes modality in the characterization of worlds.ģ. Plantingas states of affairs make it impossible to reduce modal truths to truth about what things with what properties exist. Plantinga thus presupposes modality in the characterization of worlds. Plantinga's facts make it impossible to reduce modal truths to truth about what things with what qualities exist. Why can't this abstract entity have that primitive quality even though there are no talking donkeys? Why this necessary relationship between distinct entities? In particular, it has nothing to do with the internal structure or composition of the abstract entity: it contains neither a talking donkey nor a picture or model of a donkey, nor a sentence or sign that somehow represents talking donkeys.ġ. VsPlantinga: this connection between a primitive property of abstract entities and the existence of talking donkeys must be accepted as inexplicable. For example, that 'in' a world donkeys can speak means that donkeys could speak if the facts had the property of existence. Possible worlds/Plantinga: are maximum possible facts. Other facts do not exist, but could exist.ĭef maximum/Subject/Plantinga: a fact is maximum if its existence implies either its existence or non-existence for any other fact.

At any case, they are no real universes or constructions of real things.Įxistence/'existence'/Plantinga: (> 'there is'): is a fundamental property that cannot be further analyzed. ('magic ersatzism')įacts as abstract entities about whose structure not much can be said. Alvin Plantinga on Possible Worlds - Dictionary of Arguments Schwarz I 68ĭef Possible worlds/Plantinga:d defines as maximum possible facts.

Alvin plantinga the nature of necessity