A Critical Introduction to the Metaphysics of Modality examines the eight main contemporary theories of possibility behind a central metaphysical topic. Covering modal skepticism, modal expressivism, modalism, modal realism, ersatzism, modal fictionalism, modal agnosticism, and the new modal actualism, this comprehensive introduction to modality places contemporary debates in an historical context. Beginning with a historical overview, Andrea Borghini discusses Parmenides and Zeno; looks at how central Medieval authors such as Aquinas, and Buridan prepared the ground for the Early Modern radical views of Leibniz, Spinoza, and Hume and discusses advancements in semantics in the later-half of the twentieth century a resulted in the rise of modal metaphysics, the branch characterizing the past few decades of philosophical reflection. Framing the debate according to three main perspectives - logical, epistemic, metaphysical- Borghini provides the basic concepts and terms required to discuss modality. With suggestions of further reading and end-of-chapter study questions, A Critical Introduction to the Metaphysics of Modality is an up-to-date resource for students working in contemporary metaphysics seeking a better understanding of this crucial topic.

Table of Contents

1. The metaphysics of modality: A historical overview

2. Modal skepticism and modal expressivism

3. Modalism

4. Modal realism

5. Ersatzism

6. Modal fictionalism and modal agnosticism

7. The new modal actualism

8. Necessities, necessary existents, and their bounds

Review

The concept of possible world - arguably the single most useful notion of contemporary philosophy - triggers a number of epistemological, semantic, and above all metaphysical questions. This book introduces to, and discusses, all the main contemporary answers to such questions. It provides a clear survey of mainstream and widely discussed views such as ersatzism and Lewisian modal realism. But it also guides us through the most recent approaches, such as modal fictionalism, agnosticism, and new actualism. This makes of it the most up-to-date introduction to the philosophy and metaphysics of modality on the market. Highly recommended. --Franz Berto, Structural Chair of Metaphysics, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

About the Author

Andrea Borghini is an Italian philosopher and academic associated with the University of Milan. He is especially known for work on the philosophy of food, metaphysics, and related questions about how foods, recipes, authenticity, and culinary practices should be understood philosophically.