Prior, Berkeley, and the Barcan formula

James Levine

pp. 3551-3565

in: Jørgen Albretsen, Per V. Hasle, Peter Øhrstrøm (eds), The logic and philosophy of A. N. Prior, Synthese 193 (11), 2016.

Abstract

This paper presents structural similarities and historical connections between Prior’s rejection of the Barcan formula and his critique of Berkeley’s master argument for idealism in his 1955 paper “Berkeley in Logical Form”. Making use of Mackie’s paper “Self-Refutation—A Formal Analysis”, it concludes with some suggestions concerning what is at stake in the debate between Prior and Berkeley and in structurally similar debates such as whether to accept the Barcan formula.

Cited authors

Berkeley George

Prior Arthur N