Monday, January 4, 2016

Infinite Number of Contingent Truths

Suppose there are an infinite number of necessary truths (presupposing of course that there can be an actual infinite number of Fs).  Then there are also an infinite number of contingent truths.

For let p be a contingently true proposition (for example the proposition that Tully types on Tuesdays).  Then
1. p and 2+2=4
is a contingently true proposition, since any conjunction which has a contingent truth as a conjunct is also a contingently true proposition.

But then
2. p and 2+2=4 and 2+3=5
is a contingently true proposition.

And so on ad infinitum.  So if there are an infinite number of necessary truths, there are an infinite number of contingent truths.  What there may not be is an infinite number of contingently true, simple propositions or an infinite number of Fs.


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