On the Semantics and Pragmatics of Epistemic Vocabulary
Abstract
This paper motivates and develops a novel semantics for several epistemic expressions, including possibility modals and indicative conditionals. The semantics I defend constitutes an alternative to standard truth conditional
theories, as it assigns sets of probability spaces as sentential semantic values. I argue that what my theory lacks in conservatism is made up for by its strength. In particular, my semantics accounts for the distinctive
behavior of nested epistemic modals, indicative conditionals embedded under probability operators, and instances of constructive dilemma containing epistemic vocabulary.