Essence, Explanation, and Modality
Publication Date
10-1-2020
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Philosophy
Volume
95
Issue
4
DOI
10.1017/S0031819120000200
First Page
419
Last Page
445
Abstract
Recently, Kit Fine's (1994) view that modal truths are true in virtue of, grounded in, or explained by essentialist truths has been under attack. In what follows we offer two responses to the wave of criticism against his view. While the first response is pretty straightforward, the second is based on the distinction between, what we call, Reductive Finean Essentialism and Non-Reductive Finean Essentialism. Engaging the work of Bob Hale on Non-Reductive Finean Essentialism, we aim to show that the arguments against Fine's view are unconvincing, while we acknowledge the presence of a deep standoff between the two views.
Department
Philosophy
Recommended Citation
Michael Wallner and Anand Vaidya. "Essence, Explanation, and Modality" Philosophy (2020): 419-445. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031819120000200
