Modal Properties of Quantities

Abstract

Modal features of quantities are discussed in the final chapter. Talk of atomic number as the essence of something, unclear exactly what, is put aside in favour of pursuing Paneth’s more fruitful distinction between elements as simple and as basic, leading to a discussion of how resilient being the same element is to possible changes in states of combination. The chapter goes on to develop the idea of it being possible for a quantity to be such-and-such, which is introduced to deal with claims difficult to capture with conventional sentential modal operators. This leads to the replacement of a model theory of possible worlds by the explicit quantification over possible states to achieve appropriate expressive power. Incorporation of possible processes is a natural development, linking up with the discussion in the previous chapter. The interplay between possibility and time is developed, keeping track of the time when a possibility arises and the time when it is possible for a quantity of have a property or be related to something.