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If coherent conceivability of absence suffices to disqual... — Carmelics

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Challenges→The idea of a lion with existence does not correspond to a true and immutable nature

If coherent conceivability of absence suffices to disqualify TIN status, contingent mathematical instantiations (e.g., a triangle drawn in sand) would falsely disqualify triangularity itself as a TIN.

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1 reason against

Reasons For

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Reason for

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1.Triangularity as a property persists despite contingent instantiations; the concept's necessity shouldn't collapse from instances' contingency.
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2.Conceivability of absence applies to token instances (this sand-triangle), not to the abstract property itself, so it's a category mistake to conflate them.
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3.If contingent manifestations disqualified TIN status, no mathematical property could be TIN, making the distinction metaphysically incoherent.
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Reasons Against

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Reason against

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1.The sand-triangle's conceivable absence shows that what we call 'triangularity' here depends on physical conditions, suggesting triangularity itself is contingent.
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2.If triangularity were genuinely necessary in itself, there should be no coherent scenario where triangular properties vanish, even in principle.
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3.Distinguishing the property from instances doesn't resolve the problem; both share a causal dependence on contingent physical or mental substrates.
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Key Terms

Coherent conceivability(used in metaphysics and philosophy of mind): The ability to imagine or think about something in a way that makes logical sense and doesn't contradict itself.
Mathematical instantiation(used in philosophy of mathematics): A specific, concrete example or instance of an abstract mathematical object (like a particular triangle drawn in sand rather than the abstract idea of 'triangle').
TIN status(used in metaphysics and ontology): TIN stands for 'Thing In Nature'—it refers to whether something counts as a real, fundamental thing that exists in the world rather than just being a human invention or idea.
Triangularity(as used in metaphysics and logic): The quality or property of being a triangle—what makes a triangle a triangle.
contingent(De Interpretatione 12–13): Equated with 'possible'; on the two-sided interpretation, contingency excludes necessity (possibility implies non-necessity).
disqualify(whether differences between experience types should reject religious testimony entirely): To rule something out or decide it shouldn't be trusted or accepted.

Connections

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Modality & Possibility1 linked

Related

Conceivability of absence applies to token instances (this sand-triangle), not t...Distinguishing the property from instances doesn't resolve the problem; both sha...If contingent manifestations disqualified TIN status, no mathematical property c...If triangularity were genuinely necessary in itself, there should be no coherent...

Details

Type: claim
Perspectives: 2 (1 for, 1 against)
Edits: 1 edit

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The idea of a lion with existence does not correspond to a true and immutable na...The sand-triangle's conceivable absence shows that what we call 'triangularity' ...Triangularity as a property persists despite contingent instantiations; the conc...