Chemical Possibility and Modal Semantics

Sharlow, Mark (2007) Chemical Possibility and Modal Semantics.

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Abstract

In the course of their work, chemists sometimes judge particular chemical processes to be possible or impossible. In this note I examine the semantics of the notion of possibility implicit in these judgments. I argue that standard possible worlds semantics does not allow an adequate analysis of this notion, and I suggest a modification of possible worlds semantics that may overcome this limitation.

Keywords:modality, possibility, chemistry, possible worlds
Subjects:Specific Sciences: Chemistry
ID Code:3799
Deposited By:Sharlow, Mark
Deposited On:12 January 2008
Additional Information:A previous version of this paper appeared on the author's website.