Skip to main content
Log in

Axiomatizing the Logic of Imagination

  • Published:
Studia Logica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In a recent paper Berto introduces a semantic system for a logic of imagination, intended as positive conceivability, and aboutness of imaginative acts. This system crucially adopts elements of both the semantics of conditionals and the semantics of analytical implications in order to account for the central logical traits of the notion of truth in an act of imagination based on an explicit input. The main problem left unsolved is to put forward a complete set of axioms for the proposed system. In the present paper I offer a solution to this problem by providing a complete axiomatization of a generalization of the original semantics. The difficulty in proving completeness lies in the fact that the modalities that capture the notion of truth in an act of imagination are neither standard nor minimal, so that the construction of the canonical model and the proof of the truth lemma are to be substantially modified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berto, F., Impossible Worlds and the Logic of Imagination, Erkenntnis 82:1277–1297, 2017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Berto, F., Aboutness in imagination. Philosophical Studies first online: 1–16, 2017.

  3. Blackburn, P., M. de Rijke, and Y. Venema, Modal logic, Cambridge University Press, 2001.

  4. Chalmers, D., Does conceivability entail possibility?, in T. Gendler, and J. Hawthorne, (eds.), Conceivability and Possibility, Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 145–199.

  5. Chalmers, D., The Nature of Epistemic Space, in A. Egan, and B. Weatherson, (eds.), Epistemic Modality, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 60–107.

  6. Chellas, B., Basic conditional logic, Journal of Philosophical Logic 4:133–153, 1975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chellas, B., Modal Logic. An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 1980.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  8. Fine, K., Analytic implication, Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 27:169–179, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fine, K., A theory of truthmaker content I: conjunction, disjunction and negation, Journal of Philosophical Logic 46:625–674, 2017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Lewis, D., Counterfactuals, Blackwell, 1973.

  11. Olkhovikov, G. K., and H. Wansing, An axiomatic system and a tableau calculus for stit imagination logic, Journal of Philosophical Logic first online, 1–21, 2017.

  12. Urquhart, A., A semantical theory of analytical implication, Journal of Philosophical Logic 2:212–219, 1973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wansing, H., Remarks on the logic of imagination. A step towards understanding doxastic control through imagination, Synthese 194:2843–2861, 2015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Yablo, S., Aboutness, Princeton University Press, 2014.

Download references

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Franz Berto, Ilaria Canavotto, Peter Hawke, Aybüke Özgün, and two anonymous referees of this Journal for stimulating discussions and helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandro Giordani.

Additional information

Presented by Heinrich Wansing

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Giordani, A. Axiomatizing the Logic of Imagination. Stud Logica 107, 639–657 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11225-018-9810-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11225-018-9810-z

Keywords

Navigation