alethic

Even aside from the fact that the use of it as a conceit in magic realism and fabulism is purposefully aimed at a figurative representation of what is marvellous in actuality, in reality, Bukiet’s complaint has little to do with what I’d term alethic quirks and credibility warp.

Bukiet on Brooklyn Books Hal Duncan 2009

On a very simple level, when presented with an alethic quirk like this, something which "could not happen," there is a response of incredulity to be expected.

On the Sublime Hal Duncan 2010

But the presence of “ogres and witches” in such a worldscape points to a complement: what if those alethic quirks are predominantly set against the protagonist?

A Theory of Modes and Modalities Hal Duncan 2009

Well, the way I see it -- and the reason I call this type of dewarping argued dewarping -- is that the alethic quirk (the quirk of possibility) with its modality of "could not happen" sets off a chain of logical responses.

Modality and Hamlet Hal Duncan 2010

Like you might read a Greek play and initially identify the basic agon and the key moment of anagnorisis, you might read an SF short story and initially identify the most obvious alethic quirks.

Modality and Hamlet Hal Duncan 2010

That blog commenter admits: "I seem to have difficulty seeing the particular differences between an alethic possibility and contingency, on the one hand, and epistemic notion and supposition, on the other."

Modality and Hamlet Hal Duncan 2010

Some may be insistent on it in their fiction (as some may insist on the complete exclusion of alethic quirks,) but I challenge any assertion that it has ever been, or ever should be, standard practice in narrative.

Modality and Hamlet Hal Duncan 2010

Crucially though, the alethic possibility is still quite sound.

Modality and Hamlet Hal Duncan 2010

Between these two, in fact, is the range of possible tensions that construct the warped worldscape of legend, where some alethic quirks are for the protagonist, others are against the protagonist, but many simply are.

A Theory of Modes and Modalities Hal Duncan 2009

Which is to say, the alethic quirk could be a technical, historical, metaphysical or logical impossibility.

Modality and Hamlet Hal Duncan 2010