Time, Chance, and the Necessity of Everything

Alexander Bird

Time, Chance, and the Necessity of Everything

Alexander Bird

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Other chapter contribution

Abstract

Is there any contingency in the world? Surely it is possible that there might not have been any thought. That is, it is a contingent fact that there are creatures that can think. Had the history of the world been different—and it could have been different—then such creatures might never have existed. In this paper I present an argument to the contrary, whose conclusion is that whatever is true necessarily.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Chance and Temporal Asymmetry
Editors	Alastair Wilson
Place of Publication	Oxford
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Pages	280-293
Number of pages	0
Publication status	Published - 2014

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title = "Time, Chance, and the Necessity of Everything",

abstract = "Is there any contingency in the world? Surely it is possible that there might not have been any thought. That is, it is a contingent fact that there are creatures that can think. Had the history of the world been different—and it could have been different—then such creatures might never have existed. In this paper I present an argument to the contrary, whose conclusion is that whatever is true necessarily.",

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EP - 293

BT - Chance and Temporal Asymmetry

A2 - Wilson, Alastair

PB - Oxford University Press

CY - Oxford

ER -

Time, Chance, and the Necessity of Everything

Abstract

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