Re: modal scope fallacy

In article <1184293108.991072.95530@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"michalchik@xxxxxxx" <michalchik@xxxxxxx> wrote:

....
I have been reading about logical fallacies here:

http://www.fallacyfiles.org/modlscop.html

and here:

http://www.iep.utm.edu/f/fallacy.htm#Modal

and I find the explanations kind of confusing....


Yes. I've just looked at those web pages.

The two things which mustn't be confused have traditionally been
called modalities "de re" and modalities "de dicto", but you needn't
bother about that unless you want to look up those names.

I recommend reading G. E. Hughes & M. J. Cresswell, "A New
Introduction to Modal Logic," starting from the last paragraph of p.15.
It's the most sensible elementary explanation that I've seen.

A good test of your understanding is to think about "Whatever will
be will be," and make clear what it means and what it doesn't mean.

Ken Pledger.
.