Update semantics for weak necessity modals

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper develops an update semantics for weak necessity modals like ‘ought’ and ‘should’. I start with the basic approach to the weak/strong necessity modal distinction developed in Silk 2018: Strong necessity modals are given their familiar semantics of necessity, predicating the necessity of the prejacent of the actual world (evaluation world). The apparent “weakness” of weak necessity modals derives from their bracketing the assumption that the relevant worlds in which the prejacent is necessary (deontically, epistemically, etc.) need be candidates for actuality. ‘Should φ’ can be accepted without needing to settle that the relevant considerations (norms, preferences, expectations, etc.) that actually apply, given the facts, verify the necessity of φ. I formalize these ideas within an Update with Centering framework. The meaning of ‘Should φ’ is explained, fundamentally, in terms of how its use updates attention toward possibilities in which φ is necessary. The semantics is also extended to deontic conditionals. The proposed analyses capture various contrasting logical properties and discourse properties of ‘should’ and ‘must’ — e.g., in sensitivities to standing contextual assumptions, entailingness, and force — and provide an improved treatment of largely neglected data concerning information-sensitivity.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDeontic logic and normative systems (DEON 2016)
Subtitle of host publication13th International Conference, DEON 2016, Bayreuth, Germany
EditorsOlivier Roy, Malte Willer, Allard Temminga
PublisherCollege Publications
Pages237-256
ISBN (Print)9781848902152
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jun 2016
EventDeontic Logic and Normative Systems, DEON 2016: 13th International Conference - Germany, Bayreuth, Germany
Duration: 18 Jul 201621 Jul 2016

Conference

ConferenceDeontic Logic and Normative Systems, DEON 2016
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityBayreuth
Period18/07/1621/07/16

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