Modality: A History

A History of Modality provides a comprehensive exploration of the history of philosophical work on modal concepts, covering ancient Greek philosophers to current debates in the 21st century. It traces the development of modal theorizing from Aristotle and the Stoics to Latin, Arabic, and Jewish medieval scholastics, early modern philosophers, Kant and Hegel, and the revival of modal metaphysics in recent work by Kripke, Marcus, and Lewis. Modal concepts intersect with other philosophical topics such as time, freedom, and God and extend beyond metaphysics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

A History of Modality provides a comprehensive exploration of the history of philosophical work on modal concepts, which are prevalent in everyday discourse. Modal terms such as possibility, necessity, and impossibility have been the subject of inquiry for philosophers for centuries. This volume traces the development of modal theorizing over the past two and a half millennia of Western philosophy, from ancient Greek philosophers to current debates in the 21st century. The book comprises nine chapters, each written by prominent scholars, and covers a wide range of topics. The first chapter discusses the contributions of Aristotle and the Stoics, while subsequent chapters explore insights and disagreements among Latin, Arabic, and Jewish medieval scholastics, including Al-Ghazali, Scotus, and Crescas. Early modern philosophers, such as Descartes, Malebranche, Locke, Spinoza, Leibniz, and Hume, are also examined in detail. Kant and Hegel's contributions to modal metaphysics are presented in separate chapters, and the legacy of Kant's account is traced in the work of Husserl, Heidegger, Russell, and Quine. The revival of modal metaphysics in recent work by Kripke, Marcus, and Lewis has led to a new flourishing of modal theories, including in recent debates among neo-Aristotelians. While modal concepts are interesting and important in their own right, they often intersect with other significant philosophical topics, such as time, freedom, and God. The book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of modal concepts and their impact on philosophical thought.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 209 x 141 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190089863