Counterfactuals of ontological dependence

Journal article

Baron, Sam. (2022). Counterfactuals of ontological dependence. Journal of the American Philosophical Association. 8(2), pp. 278-299. https://doi.org/10.1017/apa.2019.39
AuthorsBaron, Sam
Abstract

A great deal has been written about 'would' counterfactuals of causal dependence. Comparatively little has been said regarding 'would' counterfactuals of ontological dependence. The standard Lewis-Stalnaker semantics is inadequate for handling such counterfactuals. That's because some of these counterfactuals are counterpossibles, and the standard Lewis-Stalnaker semantics trivializes for counterpossibles. Fortunately, there is a straightforward extension of the Lewis-Stalnaker semantics available that handles counterpossibles: simply take Lewis's closeness relation that orders possible worlds and unleash it across impossible worlds. To apply the extended semantics, an account of the closeness relation for counterpossibles is needed. In this paper I offer a strategy for evaluating 'would' counterfactuals of ontological dependence that understands closeness between worlds in terms of the metaphysical concept of grounding.

Keywordscounterfactuals; ontological dependence; grounding; metaphysical laws; counterpossibles
Year2022
JournalJournal of the American Philosophical Association
Journal citation8 (2), pp. 278-299
PublisherCambridge University Press
ISSN2053-4477
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/apa.2019.39
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85127196802
Page range278-299
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online14 Mar 2022
Publication process dates
Deposited09 Sep 2021
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