Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/11375/10760
Title: | Leibniz's Law and Identity |
Authors: | Dowling, William Keith |
Advisor: | Wilson, N. L. |
Department: | Philosophy |
Keywords: | Philosophy;Philosophy |
Publication Date: | Sep-1970 |
Abstract: | <p>In this essay I consider various alleged exceptions to the principle of the indiscernibility of identicals -- Leibniz's Law. There are two major difficulties. First, the apparent antinomy that arises when Leibniz's rule combines with the modalities. I argue that there are a number of ways of dealing with this problem and we are not therefore obliged-to abandon or modify Leibniz's rule. Second, the unacceptable inference which results when Leibniz's rule is applied in contexts expressing mental attitudes. Here, I show how Leibniz's rule and intentional attitudes combine in a perfectly acceptable way.</p> <p>I also deal with a number of other minor objections to this rule, from the current literature on the topic, all of which I hope to show present no difficulties. In fine, despite the many apparent counter-examples considered, I hope to show Leibniz' s Law, which permits the unrestricted interchange of the terms of an identity sentence, has not been falsified.</p> |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/10760 |
Identifier: | opendissertations/5785 6806 2141617 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Size | Format | |
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fulltext.pdf | 5.03 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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