What might but must not be. (24th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Finlay, Stephen; Lennertz, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: Analysis. Volume 80:Number 4(2020:Oct.)
• Page Start: 647
• Page End: 656
• Publication Date: 2021-01-24
• Subjects: epistemic modals -- quantifier analysis -- pragmatics; Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1093/analys/anaa022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-2638

Abstract

Abstract: We examine an objection to analysing the epistemic 'might' and 'may' as existential quantifiers over possibilities. Some claims that a proposition "might" be the case appear felicitous although, according to the quantifier analysis, they are necessarily false, since there are no possibilities in which the proposition is true. We explain such cases pragmatically, relying on the fact that 'might'-sentences are standardly used to convey that the speaker takes a proposition as a serious option in reasoning. Our account explains why it makes sense to utter these sentences despite their being literally false and why their falsity is easily missed.