Abelard and the Albricani on Truth Variability

Enrico Donato; Heine Hansen

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Chapter 2 Abelard and the Albricani on Truth Variability

In: Time, Tense, and Modality

Authors:

Enrico Donato

Enrico Donato
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Heine Hansen

Heine Hansen
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 35–54

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004747166_004

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Abstract

The paper discusses an attack on Abelard’s propositional semantics levelled by the followers of his rival Alberic of Paris. The framework of the discussion is provided by Aristotle’s remark in Categories 5 (4a10–b19) that the same sentence may be true at one time and false at another. To begin with, the Albricani tell us that Abelard regarded the time of utterance as an essential component of the meaning of a sentence. As a result, they argue, his semantics not only makes it impossible for the same sentence to bear different truth-values at different times (in contrast to what Aristotle says), but also undermines contradiction, essential predication, and proof. The paper starts by briefly sketching the Aristotelian context, then it presents Abelard’s view as it is reported by the Albricani. Next, their objections to this view are considered. The study concludes with their alternative account according to which sentences do not signify any definite time.

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Time, Tense, and Modality

Proceedings of the XXIII European Symposium on Medieval Logic and Semantics

Series: Investigating Medieval Philosophy, Volume: 26

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004747166

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 04 Nov 2025

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Chapter 2 Abelard and the Albricani on Truth Variability

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Time, Tense, and Modality

Proceedings of the XXIII European Symposium on Medieval Logic and Semantics

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