I 40
Definition Positive Fact/Chalmers: A positive fact in world W is one that applies in every possible world that contains W as a real part, correspondingly a positive property in W is one that is instantiated in every world containing W as a real part. (Chalmers I 363: Containment of possible worlds.)
Lewis (1983a)
(1) and Jackson (1993)
(2) have noticed that it is pointless to define the relation of containing worlds once and for all. But you can use them as a basic term. ...+...)
>
Possible worlds/Lewis, >
Possible worlds.
On the other hand:
Negative facts always imply negative existence statements, which cannot be evaluated locally on their part.
>Existence sentences.
We will restrict ourselves to positive facts and properties when considering supervenience.
>
Supervenience, >
Supervenience/Chalmers, >
Properties.
I 85
Negative Facts/Chalmers: Facts that involve negative existence statements are not logically determined by any localizable facts. Even facts about conscious experience cannot help here. ((Chalmers I 369 Negative facts and logical supervenience ...+...).
>
Experience.
I 86
Solution/Chalmers: we must introduce a second-level fact which, according to the enumeration of the microphysical, phenomenal, indexical, etc. facts says:
"This is all." All the negative facts follow from the fact of the second level together with all the basic single facts.
Reductive explanation: negative facts are not a serious problem for reductionist explanations.
>
Reduction/Chalmers, >
Reductionism.
2nd level fact/Chalmers: there will be probably a statement "that is all" for every possible world and such a fact is never included in the single facts. It merely expresses the finite nature of our world or of any other world. It is a simple way to deal with negative and universally quantified facts. (>
universal quantification, >
lists,
exterior/interior, >
totality, cf.
Lists.
I 87
Facts/World/Chalmers: Facts about the world are exhausted by
1. Physical single facts
2. Facts about conscious experience
3. Natural laws
4. A fact of the 2nd level, which means "This is all."
5. An indexical fact about my localization.
>
Indexicality, >
Laws of Nature, >
Consciousness/Chalmers.
1. D. Lewis, Extrinsic properties. Philosophical Studies 44, 1983: pp. 197-200
2. F. Jackson, Armchair metaphysics. In: J. O'Leary-Hawthorne and M. Michael (Eds) Philosophy in Mind, Dordrecht 1993
