Modalities: Philosophical Essays - Hardcover

Marcus, Ruth Barcan

9780195076981: Modalities: Philosophical Essays

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195076982 ISBN 13: 9780195076981

Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1993

Informed by her earlier ground-breaking axiomatizations of quantified modal logic, the papers collected here by the distinguished philosopher Ruth Barcan Marcus cover much ground in the development of her thought from 1961 to 1990. The first essay introduces themes initially viewed as iconoclastic, such as the necessity of identity, the directly referential role of proper names as "tags, " the Barcan Formula about the interplay of possibility and existence, and alternative interpretations of quantification. Marcus also addresses the putative puzzles about substitutivity and about essentialism. The collection also includes influential essays on moral conflict, on belief and rationality, and on some historical figures. Though many of her views have been incorporated into current theories, others remain part of continuing philosophical debate.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Marcus is a brilliant, original, learned, tenacious, and productive scholar ... this review of the development of her thought, its connections with some important historical figures, and her differences with other contemporary philosophers [is] of great value. (David Kaplan, University of California)

Synopsis:

A collection of the most important papers of this American philosopher and logician, including her influential early papers on modal logic and her more recent work in moral philosophy and rationality.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.