Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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236543

Truthmakers and necessary connections

Cameron Ross

pp. 27-45

Abstract

In this paper I examine the objection to truthmaker theory, forcibly made by David Lewis and endorsed by many, that it violates the Humean denial of necessary connections between distinct existences. In Sect. 1 I present the argument that acceptance of truthmakers commits us to necessary connections. In Sect. 2 I examine Lewis’ ‘Things-qua-truthmakers’ theory which attempts to give truthmakers without such a commitment, and find it wanting. In Sects. 3–5 I discuss various formulations of the denial of necessary connections and argue that each of them is either false or compatible with truthmaker theory. In Sect. 6 I show how the truthmaker theorist can resist the charge that they are committed to necessary exclusions between possible existents. I conclude that there is no good objection to truthmaker theory on the grounds that it violates the Humean dictum.

Publication details

Published in:

(2008) Synthese 161 (1).

Pages: 27-45

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-006-9152-7

Full citation:

Ross Cameron (2008) „Truthmakers and necessary connections“. Synthese 161 (1), 27–45.