Modality, With or Without Possible Worlds?

The University of St Andrews Arché Philosophical Research Centre for Logic, Language, Metaphysics and Epistemology will be hosting a workshop on Modality, With or Without Possible Worlds?

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of the workshop is to bring together and promote research in the area of metaphysics of modality, with a specific focus on two broad themes: (i) the challenges associated with exclusively employing possible worlds to clarify our modal discourse about metaphysical necessity and possibility, among other metaphysical concepts; and (ii) alternative approaches that shed light on such discourse without relying on the concept of a possible world.

DATE AND VENUE: 7 June 2024, Online on Teams

SPEAKERS: Vera Hoffman-Kolss (University of Bern), Barbara Vetter (Freie Universität Berlin), Jennifer Wang (Simon Fraser University), Mark Jago (University of Nottingham), Takashi Tagisawa (California State University), and John Divers (Trinity College Dublin).  

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE (Note: All times are in British Summer Time):

Every time slot includes: the main talk (40 mins), and Q&A (20 mins). 

9:55 – 10:00 Preliminary Remarks

10:00 – 11:00 Barbara Vetter (Freie Universität Berlin)

11:00 – 11:15 Break

11:15 – 12:15 Mark Jago (University of Nottingham)

12:15 – 12:30 Break

12:30 – 13:30 Jennifer Wang (Simon Fraser University)

13:30 – 14:30 Break

14:30 – 15:30 John Divers (Trinity College Dublin)

15:30 – 15:45 Break

15:45 – 16:45 Vera Hoffman-Kolss (University of Bern)

16:45 – 17:00 Break

17:00 – 18:00 Takashi Yagisawa (California State University)