Explanatory Principles and Infinite Propositions
In the course of his discussion of cosmological arguments, Sobel argues against the Principle of Sufficient Reason and similar strong explanatory principles. In particular, he argues that even a weak principle like "there is a deductive explanation that has only true premises for every contingent truth" will result in modal collapse (p. 218). In Sobel's terminology, an argument 'deductively explains' its conclusion iff (1) the argument is sound, and (2) the conclusion does not entail the premises (p. 219; condition (2) applies to contingent conclusions only). Sobel now introduces the following two premises: (3) If there is any true contingent...
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Topic(s):
Abstract Objects
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Contemporary Thinkers
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Cosmological Argument
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Existence of God
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Explanation
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G. W. Leibniz
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Historical Thinkers
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Jordan Howard Sobel
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Logic
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Metaphysics
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Ontology
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Philosophy
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Philosophy of Religion
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Propositions
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