  In response to Aristotle, one might wonder whether it is possible to act merely as if one has certain beliefs, without having them. In Hellenistic philosophy, the question arises whether the skeptic can live his skepticism, and in modern philosophy the parallel question arises whether moral anti-realists can act on their theory. If the answer is yes, then all Aristotle will have shown is that we do act as if we are committed to PNC, an answer that falls short of Aristotle’s aim in Metaphysics IV 4, whether this is interpreted as to show that PNC is true or to show that PNC is indubitable.