Desirability of conditionals

H. Stefánsson

pp. 1967-1981

in: Synthese 193 (6), 2016.

Abstract

This paper explores the different ways in which conditionals can be carriers of good and bad news. I suggest a general measure of the desirability of conditionals, and use it to explore the different ways in which conditionals can have news value. I conclude by arguing that the desirability of a counterfactual conditional cannot be reduced to the desirability of factual propositions.