Higher Seminar in Theoretical Philsophy: Daniel Berntson (Uppsala)

Seminar

Date: Thursday 3 April 2025

Time: 13.15 – 15.00

Location: D700

Safety, Similarity, and Counterfactuals

Abstract

Suppose that Socrates is five feet tall. We ordinarily think that had he been at least six feet, he need not have been exactly six feet. He might have been a little taller. Likewise for other heights. But while that may be, we also think that there are limits to how tall Socrates would have been. For example, had Socrates been at least six feet, he would have been less than a hundred feet.

This paper is about a surprising puzzle. For as it turns out, given these seemingly obvious assumptions, we can prove a flat contradiction using natural rules of inference. So we have paradox. Something has to go. But what?

Last updated: March 21, 2025

Source: Department of Philosophy

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