What is your answer?

Wyman reasons as follows: "I have no younger sister. However, it's possible (conceivable) that I would have had a younger sister. Therefore, there is a possible being who is my younger sister."

Quine objects to the last step (about possible beings) because

    { 1 } - it raises bizarre and unanswerable questions -- like "How much does this possible being weigh?" and "Exactly how many possible younger sisters do I have?"
    { 2 } - by introducing useless entities, it violates the principle that we should accept the simplest scheme that fits our experience.
    { 3 } - -- he raises both of these objections.
    { 4 } - -- actually, Quine thinks Wyman's reasoning is perfectly sound.

<= back | menu | forward =>
Directions: Click on a number from 1 to 4.
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























1 is wrong. Please try again.

Wyman reasons as follows: "I have no younger sister. However, it's possible (conceivable) that I would have had a younger sister. Therefore, there is a possible being who is my younger sister."

Quine objects to the last step (about possible beings) because

Quine gives the other objection too.

<= back | menu | forward =>
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























2 is wrong. Please try again.

Wyman reasons as follows: "I have no younger sister. However, it's possible (conceivable) that I would have had a younger sister. Therefore, there is a possible being who is my younger sister."

Quine objects to the last step (about possible beings) because

    { 1 } - it raises bizarre and unanswerable questions -- like "How much does this possible being weigh?" and "Exactly how many possible younger sisters do I have?"
    { 2 } - by introducing useless entities, it violates the principle that we should accept the simplest scheme that fits our experience.
    { 3 } - -- he raises both of these objections.
    { 4 } - -- actually, Quine thinks Wyman's reasoning is perfectly sound.

Quine gives the other objection too.

<= back | menu | forward =>
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























3 is correct!

Wyman reasons as follows: "I have no younger sister. However, it's possible (conceivable) that I would have had a younger sister. Therefore, there is a possible being who is my younger sister."

Quine objects to the last step (about possible beings) because

    { 1 } - it raises bizarre and unanswerable questions -- like "How much does this possible being weigh?" and "Exactly how many possible younger sisters do I have?"
    { 2 } - by introducing useless entities, it violates the principle that we should accept the simplest scheme that fits our experience.
    { 3 } - -- he raises both of these objections.
    { 4 } - -- actually, Quine thinks Wyman's reasoning is perfectly sound.

Quine gives both reasons not to add possible beings to our ontology.

<= back | menu | forward =>
Before continuing, you might try some wrong answers.
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























4 is wrong. Please try again.

Wyman reasons as follows: "I have no younger sister. However, it's possible (conceivable) that I would have had a younger sister. Therefore, there is a possible being who is my younger sister."

Quine objects to the last step (about possible beings) because

    { 1 } - it raises bizarre and unanswerable questions -- like "How much does this possible being weigh?" and "Exactly how many possible younger sisters do I have?"
    { 2 } - by introducing useless entities, it violates the principle that we should accept the simplest scheme that fits our experience.
    { 3 } - -- he raises both of these objections.
    { 4 } - -- actually, Quine thinks Wyman's reasoning is perfectly sound.

Huh?

<= back | menu | forward =>
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























the end