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Возможные миры: метафизика и здравый смысл
It is argued that the main argument for the ontology of possible worlds is that we are committed to the existence of those entities which figure in the account of truth in our semantic theory. At first sight, this inference “from semantics to ontology” accords with the criteria of existence proposed by the leading analytic philosophers of the second half of the 20th century – W.V.O.Quine and D.Davidson. However, a closer examination of those criteria shows that their application should be subjected to some important restrictions which are not observed in the inference from possible worlds semantics to the ontology of possible worlds. We should not be guided by purely formal criteria of existence; we should take into account the context of scientific practice and/or human communication. Otherwise we are doomed to untenable metaphysical speculation.