"It could be that Walter's horse has wings" does not imply that there is
any such animal as Walter's horse, only that there could be; but "Walter's
horse is a thing which could have wings" does imply Walter's horse's
existence. But the conjunction "Walter's horse exists, and it could be
that Walter's horse has wings" still does not imply "Walter's horse is a
thing that could have wings", for perhaps it can only be that Walter's
horse has wings by Walter having a different horse. Nor does "Walter's
horse is a thing which could have wings" conversely imply "It could be that
Walter's horse has wings"; for it might be that Walter's horse could only
have wings by not being Walter's horse.
I would deny, though, that the formula [Necessarily if some x has property P
then some x has property P] expresses a logical law, since P(x) could stand
for, let us say "x is a better logician than I am", and the statement "It is
necessary that if someone is a better logician than I am then someone is a
better logician than I am" is false because there need not have been any me.
-- A.N. Prior, "Time and Modality"
any such animal as Walter's horse, only that there could be; but "Walter's
horse is a thing which could have wings" does imply Walter's horse's
existence. But the conjunction "Walter's horse exists, and it could be
that Walter's horse has wings" still does not imply "Walter's horse is a
thing that could have wings", for perhaps it can only be that Walter's
horse has wings by Walter having a different horse. Nor does "Walter's
horse is a thing which could have wings" conversely imply "It could be that
Walter's horse has wings"; for it might be that Walter's horse could only
have wings by not being Walter's horse.
I would deny, though, that the formula [Necessarily if some x has property P
then some x has property P] expresses a logical law, since P(x) could stand
for, let us say "x is a better logician than I am", and the statement "It is
necessary that if someone is a better logician than I am then someone is a
better logician than I am" is false because there need not have been any me.
-- A.N. Prior, "Time and Modality"
Related:
- And Walter, why does this issue concern you so?
The devil is paying me to have a conversation.
Walter... - Every Horse has an Infinite Number of Legs (proof by intimidation):
Horses have an even number of legs. Behind they have... - Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.
W. C.... - HORSE
I begin to seriously doubt the viability of a dictionary that
defines "horse" as "a soft-hoofed ungulate." A horse is actually
any four legged creature in a Western movie.
Except a cow. The horse's major contribution...
From the same category:
- Sherry [Thomas Sheridan] is dull, naturally dull; but it must have
taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him.
Such an excess of stupidity, sir, is not in Nature... - What this country needs is a good five cent
microcomputer... - Purrverse:
Poem about a strange kitty..... - Fools rush in where incumbents fear to tread.
-- Augustine's Law Number XXXIII
-
Norman R. Augustine, President and CEO, Martin... - Let no man value at a little price
A virtuous woman's counsel;
her wing'd spirit Is feather'd oftentimes with heavenly...
