DOI: 10.17151/difil.2019.20.34.3
How to Cite
Miranda Roja, R. (2019). “A posteriori necessity, trivialization and overgeneralization”. Discusiones Filosóficas, 20(34), 43–63. https://doi.org/10.17151/difil.2019.20.34.3

Authors

Rafael Miranda Roja

rmiranda@ucm.cl

Universidad Católica del Maule
rafaelmirandarojas@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6603-070X

Abstract

This paper discusses the plausibility of the admission of general non-natural rigid terms. Theoretical identity statements that include general non-natural rigid terms do not express a posteriori necessity: they are analytical, necessary and a priori statements. Only statements of identity that include general rigid natural terms are statements necessary a posteriori. The problems of trivialization and overgeneralization assume that the application of rigidity to the terms of non-natural kinds, detracts from rigidity as a semantic-modal differentiator, but that is only true if these problems require that any general rigid term allows affirming a posteriori necessity, which is rejected. The nominalization of a general term is proposed as a solution to trivialization and over-generalization. Similarly, a restrictive predicative reading of the general terms is discarded. Finally, the main cases of general non-rigid terms are explained: syntactically complex descriptive terms.

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