'Actually' again. (21st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stephanou, Yannis
• Is Part Of: Ratio. Volume 35:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2022-03-21
• Subjects: 'actually' -- actuality -- modal operators -- mood -- scope; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Analysis (Philosophy) -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1111/rati.12332
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-0006

Abstract

Abstract: Some authors have suggested that, contrary to what is usually thought, 'actually' and similar expressions ('in fact', 'in reality', etc.) cannot effect a return to the actual world when used in a context generated by a different modal operator, and so are quite unlike the actuality operator of modal logic. I argue that they can induce such a return. The argument involves comparing them with other devices that can play a similar role, such as scope and mood, and examining the effect of 'actually' and the like in a range of different sentences.