Single Idea 14649

[catalogued under 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 4. De re / De dicto modality]

Full Idea

To explain the 'de re' via the 'de dicto' is to provide a rule enabling us to find, for each de re proposition, an equivalent de dicto proposition.

Gist of Idea

Can we find an appropriate 'de dicto' paraphrase for any 'de re' proposition?

Source

Alvin Plantinga (De Re and De Dicto [1969], p.41)

Book Reference

Plantinga,Alvin: 'Essays in the Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 2003], p.41


A Reaction

Many 'de dicto' paraphrases will change the modality of a 'de re' statement, so the challenge is to find the right equivalent version. Plantinga takes up this challenge. The 'de dicto' statement says the object has the property, and must have it.