Hobbes's system of modalities

Ilkka Patoluoto

pp. 71-84

in: Simo Knuuttila (ed), Modern modalities, Berlin, Springer, 1988

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider Thomas Hobbes's uses of modal notions. I shall concentrate on his theory of causality and on his theory of knowledge. Modal notions play an interesting role in both areas, but the characterizations which Hobbes gives to them are different from each other. Therefore one could speak about two modal theories in Hobbes. Some of his formulations suggest that he was aware of the differences between them.

Cited authors

Hobbes Thomas