Fine, ArthurEnden, Brian Lars2017-02-142017-02-142017-02-142016-12Enden_washington_0250E_16725.pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/1773/38197Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-12The integration challenge for modality states that metaphysical theories of modality tend to fail in one of two ways: either they render the meanings of modal sentences mysterious, or they render modal knowledge mysterious. I argue that there are specific semantic and epistemic constraints on metaphysics implied by the integration challenge and that a plausible metaphysical theory of modality will satisfy both of them. I further argue that no popular metaphysical theory of modality simultaneously satisfies both of the constraints. Therefore, a new metaphysical theory of modality is needed, one that can offer a clear response to the integration challenge. I attempt to supply the needed theory and show that it satisfies the constraints of the integration challenge. The overall result is an argument for a new and unique metaphysical theory of modality that I call constructionism.application/pdfen-USnoneIntegrationModalityNecessityPossibilityWay-ViewWorldMetaphysicsEpistemologyLanguagephilosophyThesis