Abstract
In this chapter, it is suggested that our epistemic access to metaphysical modality generally involves rationalist, a priori elements. However, these a priori elements are much more subtle than ‘traditional’ modal rationalism assumes. In fact, some might even question the ‘apriority’ of these elements, but I should stress that I consider a priori and a posteriori elements especially in our modal inquiry to be so deeply intertwined that it is not easy to tell them apart. Supposed metaphysically necessary identity statements involving natural kind terms are a good example: the fact that empirical input is crucial in establishing their necessity has clouded the role and content of the a priori input, as I have previously argued (Tahko 2015). For instance, the supposed metaphysically necessary identity statement involving water and its microstructure can only be established with the help of a controversial a priori principle concerning the determination of chemical properties by microstructure. The Kripke-Putnam framework of modal epistemology fails precisely because it is unclear whether the required a priori element is present.
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Notes
- 1.
I owe this insight to Robin Hendry and Jani Hakkarainen.
- 2.
But see also Vaidya (2010), where a more systematic theory about understanding and essence is developed. Vaidya’s account, however, may not be compatible with the type of (realist) essentialism that Lowe hopes to defend, so it represents a somewhat different approach to the topic.
- 3.
On a related point, see Vaidya (2017), in this volume. Vaidya defines what he calls epistemological entanglement, where knowledge of something’s existence is entangled with knowledge of its essence.
- 4.
Note that Lowe himself does not distinguish understanding and knowledge. This may introduce further problems, some of which are discussed in Vaidya (2010).
- 5.
We should leave aside here the problems concerning the essences of biological species, or indeed individual members of biological species. The point of the example for our current purposes is simply to get a grip on Lowe’s toolbox regarding the epistemology to essence.
- 6.
See Correia (2008) for an analysis of different kinds of ontological dependence, including essential dependence. Lowe himself defines essential dependence as follows: ‘To say that X depends essentially on Y for its existence and identity is just to say that it is part of the essence of X that X exists only if Y exists and part of the essence of X that X stands in some unique relation to Y’ (Lowe 2008, p. 38). For further discussion, see also Tahko and Lowe (2015).
- 7.
For further details on allotropy, see Addison (1964).
- 8.
I’d like to thank audiences at the E.J. Lowe Memorial Conference in Durham and the Metaphysics and Modal Epistemology Conference in Belgrade for their helpful comments on previous versions of this paper. Special thanks to Anand Vaidya for detailed comments. Thanks also to Bob Fischer. The research for this paper was made possible by a grant from the Academy of Finland (funding decision no. 266256).
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Tahko, T.E. (2017). Empirically-Informed Modal Rationalism. In: Fischer, B., Leon, F. (eds) Modal Epistemology After Rationalism. Synthese Library, vol 378. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44309-6_3
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