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Abstract

This note is a friendly amendment to Martirsquos analysis of the failure of Føllesdalrsquos argument that modal distinctions collapse in Carnaprsquos logic S2. Føllesdalrsquos argument turns on the treatment of descriptions. Marti considers how modal descriptions, which Carnap banned, might be handled; she adopts an approach which blocks Føllesdalrsquos argument, but requires a separate treatment of non-modal descriptions. I point out that a more general treatment of descriptions in S2 is possible, and indeed is implicit in Martirsquos informal discussion, and that this treatment also blocks Føllesdalrsquos argument. Further, I show by a semantic argument that no revised version of Føllesdalrsquos argument could establish a collapse of modal distinctions.

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