Symmetry's revenge

Analysis 83 (4):723-731 (2023)
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Abstract

James Henry Collin recently developed a new symmetry breaker favouring the ontological argument’s possibility premiss over that of the reverse ontological argument. The symmetry breaker amounts to an undercutting defeater for the reverse possibility premiss based on Kripkean cases of a posteriori necessity. I argue, however, that symmetry re-arises in two forms. First, I challenge the purported asymmetry in epistemic entitlements to the original and reverse possibility premisses. Second, relevantly similar Kripkean cases equally undercut the original possibility premiss.

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Joseph Schmid
Princeton University

Citations of this work

Modal Ontological Arguments.Gregory R. P. Stacey - 2023 - Philosophy Compass 18 (8):e12938.

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References found in this work

Reverse Ontological Argument.James Henry Collin - 2022 - Analysis 82 (3):410-416.
Śamkara's principle and two ontomystical arguments.Alexander R. Pruss - 2001 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 49 (2):111-120.
A defense of modal appearances.C. A. McIntosh - 2020 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 89 (3):243-261.

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