The Limits of Subtraction. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Colyvan, Mark
• Is Part Of: Australasian philosophical review. Volume 1:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: logical subtraction -- mathematical explanation -- nominalism -- photographic subtraction, Stephen Yablo; Philosophy -- Periodicals; 101
• DOI: 10.1080/24740500.2017.1346411
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2474-0500

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the target article 'If-Thenism', Stephen Yablo develops a novel form of if-thenism, that appeals to the notion of logical subtraction. In this commentary, I explore the limits of Yablo's proposed subtraction procedure, by leaning on an analogy with photographic subtraction. In particular, I will argue that there will be cases when there's nothing interesting left after the subtraction (a possibility Yablo himself raises) and, as a consequence, there are serious limits to the applicability of the subtraction procedure.