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Serious Actualism and Nonexistence.

Authors :
Masterman, Christopher James
Source :
Australasian Journal of Philosophy; Sep2024, Vol. 102 Issue 3, p658-674, 17p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Serious actualism is the view that it is metaphysically impossible for an entity to have a property, or stand in a relation, and not exist. Fine (1985) and Pollock (1985) influentially argue that this view is false. In short, there are properties like the property of nonexistence, and it is metaphysically possible that some entity both exemplifies such a property and does not exist. I argue that such arguments are indeed successful against the standard formulation of serious actualism. However, I also argue that we should distinguish a weaker formulation of serious actualism using the actualist distinction between truth in, and truth at, a possible world. This weaker formulation is then shown to be consistent with the existence and possible exemplification of properties like the property of nonexistence. I end with a novel argument for the truth of the weaker formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00048402
Volume :
102
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Australasian Journal of Philosophy
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
178651289
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/00048402.2024.2310190