ESSLLI 2025: Predictive and Counterfactual Modality
Co-taught with Paolo Santorio (Maryland Philosophy)

Abstract: Natural language contains expressions for talking about the future, and expressions for talking about counterfactual scenarios. With some notable exceptions, the literature on these topics has proceeded mostly on separate tracks, both in philosophical logic and in formal semantics. Our course will highlight empirical connections between the two domains, and will take steps towards developing a unified analytical framework. We will survey existing literature, as well as build on some of our own work. We will pay particular attention to the interaction between tense and modal domains and to the role of mood. The phenomena covered will include 'will'-sentences, non-epistemic conditionals, so-called 'fake tense' in X-marked constructions, and future reference in some subordinate environments.

***Course materials will be posted here.***