OVERVIEW

It’s a fact that p if and only if it’s true that p. Example. It’s a fact that dolomite is magnesium carbonate if and only if it’s true that dolomite is magnesium carbonate. The fact that p should be distinguished from our belief/knowledge that p. Before 1779, nobody knew that dolomite is magnesium carbonate, but it was nevertheless still a fact that dolomite is magnesium carbonate.

constructivism “it is a necessary truth about any fact that it obtains only because we humans have constructed it in a way that reflects our contingent needs and interests.” (25)

C. Fact-Objectivism “…many facts about the world obtain entirely independently of human beings” (25)

D. Description Dependence of Facts (DDF) Necessarily, all facts are description-dependent: there cannot be a fact of the matter as to how things are with the world independently of our propensity to describe the world as being a certain way. Once we adopt a particular scheme for describing the world, there then come to be facts about the world (28).

E. Social Relativity of Description (SRD) Which scheme we adopt to describe the world will depend on which scheme we find it useful to adopt, and which scheme we find it useful to adopt will depend on our contingent needs and interests as social beings (29).

II. Arguments for Fact Constructivism 1.All descriptions depend on our interests and needs (SRD). 2.If all descriptions depend on our interests and needs, then no fact obtains independently of our descriptions. 3.No fact obtains independently of our descriptions. (DDF)

Does SRD entail DDF?

Boghossian vs. CC An object is a stellar constellation only if we describe it as a constellation. However, not all objects are F only if we describe them as F’s. Example: A sample of dolomite contains magnesium even if nobody describes it as containing magnesium. So, it’s not the case that if a constellation is description-dependent, then everything else is too!

An unexplored argument between use, description, and facts… If there’s a fact, then either we’re aware of it or we’re not. If we’re aware of a fact, then we have a description of it. If we’re not aware of it, then it’s of no immediate use to us. So, if there is any fact of immediate use to us, then we have a description of it.

1.If one grasps the concept electron, then one understands that electrons exist independently of our descriptions of them. 2.If fact-constructivism is true, then electrons do not exist independently of our descriptions of them. 3.So, if one grasps the concept electron, then fact- constructivism is not true. 4.Many grasp the concept electron. 5.So fact constructivism is not true.

IV.D. Disagreement 1.If fact constructivism is true and it’s possible that we have constructed the fact that P at the same time that another community has constructed the fact that not-P, then it’s possible that P and not-P. 2.It’s possible that we have constructed the fact that P at the same time that another community has constructed the fact that not-P. 3.So, if fact constructivism is true, then it’s possible that P and not-P. 4.It is impossible that P and not-P. 5.So fact constructivism is not true.

Recap Fact-constructivists hold that there cannot be a fact of the matter as to how anything is with the world independently of our descriptions. Fact-constructivists do not have a clear line of argument for their position. Fact-constructivists face many tough arguments against their position, most notably the three problems just discussed.