EY does not think that modal logic is wrong as a mathematical theory, but that if we interpret philosophically it as its creators seem to intend, we will we be lead astray and believe we have gained an understanding of “necessity” and “possibility” when we haven’t actually done so.
I tend to agree with him on this. His comment seemed to have the subtext “you shouldn’t be bringing up these ideas on less wrong without some strong justification, it will lead people down fruitless avenues”. I was bringing them up to illustrate semantics for relevance logics, but that wasn’t clear in the post.
I’m not sure modal logic’s creators ever intended it as an explanation of “necessity” and “possibility”. It was always a description of how the two things (and other similar modalities) should behave. Kripke semantics has more of an ‘explanation’ flavor, but it is also a description.
The thought that we (LW participants interested in these things) will be lead astray by a slight exposure to the forbidden topic is kinda offending. I mean, we already have a satisfactory explanation and understanding of “possibility”, don’t we?
EY does not think that modal logic is wrong as a mathematical theory, but that if we interpret philosophically it as its creators seem to intend, we will we be lead astray and believe we have gained an understanding of “necessity” and “possibility” when we haven’t actually done so.
I tend to agree with him on this. His comment seemed to have the subtext “you shouldn’t be bringing up these ideas on less wrong without some strong justification, it will lead people down fruitless avenues”. I was bringing them up to illustrate semantics for relevance logics, but that wasn’t clear in the post.
I’m not sure modal logic’s creators ever intended it as an explanation of “necessity” and “possibility”. It was always a description of how the two things (and other similar modalities) should behave. Kripke semantics has more of an ‘explanation’ flavor, but it is also a description.
The thought that we (LW participants interested in these things) will be lead astray by a slight exposure to the forbidden topic is kinda offending. I mean, we already have a satisfactory explanation and understanding of “possibility”, don’t we?