Imagining Possibilities¹

Abstract

This paper argues that the imaginability of propositions of a certain kind under certain special circumstances implies their possibility. It then attempts to use that conclusion in doing some modal epistemology. In particular, the paper argues that the conclusion justifies some ascriptions of possibility and that it promises to justify some ascriptions of impossibility.

Yet another new cosmological argument

“…Grounded concepts are relevantly and ''non-accidently accurate'' and so 26 Thanks to Carrie Ichikawa Jenkins for correspondence (3/6/14) on this section of the paper. 27 See Bealer (2002), Chalmers (2002), Geirsson (2005), Gregory (2004), Jenkins (2010), Williamson (2007), and Yablo (1993). 28 See the interesting discussions of omnipotence in Rosenkrantz and Hoffman (1980, p. 14); and Hoffman and Rosenkrantz (2012, sect.…”

You Really Do Imagine It: Against Error Theories of Imagination

“…I simply want to make it plain that we can imagine impossible situations via assignments. 38 In addition to Yablo ( , 2006, explicit defenders of imagining as a guide to possibility include Chalmers (2002), Geirsson (2005), Gendler (2000b), Gregory (2004), Hart (1988), Hilll (1997, and Kung (2010). Many, many others assume it without argument, e.g., from (famously) Hume (1978) to Nagel (1974) to Lewis (1986).…”

“…oak or metal” (p. 292). Gregory () has developed this view at length, and it is from Gregory that I take the expression “imagining under the supposition.” Yablo's view differs from Gregory's, and I will stick to Yablo's formulation here, although some of my objections apply to Gregory as well. Thanks to an anonymous referee for pressing me to elaborate on the modal conditionals strategy.…”

“…The considerations in this section pose a problem for Gregory's () view as well. According to Gregory, “unshakably” imaginable propositions provide evidence for possibility; those are propositions that remain imaginable under all correct suppositions.…”

On the Possibility of Skeptical Scenarios

“…11 Among proponents of imagining as a guide to possibility: Hume (1978), of course, as well as Chalmers 2002;Geirsson 2005;Gregory 2004;Hart 1988;Hill 1997;Kung forthcoming;and Yablo 1993. I believe other putative sources-non-imaginative conceiving, intuition, and so on-are either confusingly vague, too limited, or depend on imagining.…”