a seminar on metaphysics
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A Seminar on Metaphysics
Jeremiah Joven Joaquin
September 13, 2011De La Salle University-Manila
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What is Metaphysics?
Metaphysics is aboutreality
Its not about how we come to knowreality
Its not about how we talk aboutreality
Its not about how we think aboutreality
Its not about the beautyor goodnessof reality
Its just about reality
I.e. it is a study of what reality is ultimately like
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Tools and Data of Todays
Metaphysicians
Tools
Analytical tools of logic and mathematics
Data Empirical findings of physics
Commonsense
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Target
Synthetic a prioritruths
the most general and ubiquitous features ofreality
the most fundamental principles that apply toeverything that is real.
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Metaphysical Topics
Metaphysics can be about anything fromthe nature of universals to the existence ofholes in your shirt.
But there are specific topics thatmetaphysicians focus on.
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Here are some(in alphabetical order)
Abstract entities
Causation
Existence
Free will
Modality
Persistence
Persons
Time
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Abstract Entities
Do abstract entities really exist?
Particular tables and chairs exist. Donumbers, properties, and propositions have
the same ontological status?
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Rival Views about Abstracta
Realism Yes. Abstracta exist.
Platonic Realism Aristotelian Realism
Semantic Argument and Metaphysical Argument Russellian Realism Knowability Argument
Anti-realism (nominalism) No. Abstacta do not exist.
Predicate/Class/Resemblance Nominalism Argument from Parsimony
Trope Theory Argument from the Best Explanation
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Causation
What is the nature of causation?
Given that A caused B, what does cause
here mean? Is it even analyzable?
What are the objects of causation? Are theyfacts, events, or things?
Where do we get the necessity of causal
relations? Is there a law which binds causesand effects together?
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Rival Views about theNature of Causation
Humean (Reductive) There is an analysis of causation.
(Motivation: Humean Supervenience)
Regularity Theory A caused B iff(i) A preceded B and (ii) all A-type events are followed by
B-type events.
Counterfactual Theory (Lewiss version) A caused B iff had A not happened, B wouldnt have happened.
Anti-Humean (Non-reductive) There is no analysis of causation.
(Motivation: Singularism about causation)
A causes B iff B derives from A (with or without necessitating laws). Anscombes Analysis and John Carrolls Primitivism
Failure of Humean views of causation
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Existence
Existence is a often-used word inmetaphysics. But what is it? What is thenature of existence?
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Rival Views about Existence
Property View
Existence is a property had by some, but not all,things.
A version of the Semantic Argument Meinongian Ontology (non-existent/subsitent) objects)
Quantifier View
Existence just means (x).
Argument from the Logical Structure of ExistentialStatements.
Accounts for true negative existentials
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Free will
Do we have free will?
Obstacles: Fatalism: the idea that everything has a definite end defined by
fate
Determinism: the thesis that, given the laws of nature, and thestate of the universe at any time, it is impossible for the history ofthe universe (before and after that time) to be other than it is.Alternatively, it can be rendered as the thesis that every eventhas a cause, where causes are understood to necessitate ordetermine their effects.
Incoherentism: (from Galen Strawson), any conception of freewill is incoherent; thus, there is no such thing!
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Free Will and Determinism
Problem: Is free will compatible withdeterminism? Yes. (Compatibalism)
Argument from Possible Worlds Frankfurt Cases
No. (Incompatibalism) Argument from the truth (or falsity) of determinism
Hard Determinism Libertarianism
Argument from Responsibility (for libertarians)
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Modality
Metaphysics of (de reand de dicto)modality
Essentialism (de remodality)
Are there such things as necessary or contingentproperties?
Necessary Truths (de dictomodality)
Modality and Possible Worlds
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Modality and Possible Worlds
Developments in modal logic led to an analysisof modalities using possible world semantics.But are we ontologically committed to theexistence of these possible worlds? No. Actualism
This is the only actual world.
Yes Possibilism (possible objects, properties, facts, and worlds do
exist akin to the existence of negative facts) Lewisian Modal Realism (possible worlds do exist; in the
sense that this world of ours is just one of the many possibleworlds in existence)
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Persons
Nature Question What is the nature of persons? What are we?
Identity (Persistence) Question
What, if any, is it for the sameperson topersist over time?What is the necessary andsufficient condition for personal identity?
What Matters Question What grounds prudential concern? Is personalidentity an important relation?
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Personal Identity
Is there a criterion (a necessary and sufficientcondition) for personal identity? Yes. Complex View
Motivation: There should be an analysis of personal identity
Physical Continuity Theory
Brain Continuity Theory
Animalism
Psychological Continuity Theory
No. Simple View Motivation: There cant be an analysis of personal identity.
Argument: Determinacy of identity; phenomenology;preservation of what matters; failure of complex view theories
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Time
What is time? Is time like space? In whatway are they similar/different? What is thecorrect philosophical account of the
fundamental nature of time?
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Rival Views about Time
A Theory (Presentism and Growing Block View)
Argument from Change
Argument from the Flow of Time Argument from the Direction of Time
B Theory Eternalism
Argument from Analogy of Time and Space
Argument from Conservation of Energy
Argument from Exotica (Time Travel)
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Persistence
How do things persist? Do they endure orperdure?
Motivation: Things persist; the question isabout the nature of persistence (the howpart)
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Two Views
Endurantism Objects persist by enduring
Enduring = the identity between two (three-
dimensional) objects each wholly present attwo different times
Perdurantism Objects persist by perduring
Perduring = the object (a four-dimensionalone) aside from having spatial parts also hastemporal parts
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The Issue
Do ordinary objects have temporal parts?
No (Endurantism/3D View)
Argument from commonsense
Argument from the disanalogy between spatial andtemporal parts
Yes (Perdurantism/4D View)
Argument from temporary intrinsics (aka argumentfrom change)
Best accounts for puzzles about materialconstitution
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Dissecting Sider
Things to do:
Note Siders style and presentation
Analysis and evaluation of the arguments
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Suggested Readings
Overview: Brian Garrett. 2011. What is this thing called metaphysics? 2ndedition.
Routledge.
Anthologies: Theodore Sider, John Hawthorne, and Dean Zimmerman, eds. 2007.
Contemporary debates in metaphysics. Blackwell.
Peter van Inwagen and Dean Zimmerman, eds. 2008. Metaphysics: Thebig questions 2ndedition. Blackwell.
Micahel J. Loux, ed. 2008. Metaphysics: Contemporary readings 2ndedition. Routledge.
Michael Rea. 2009. Arguing about metaphysics. Routledge.
Online Databases:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy plato.stanford.edu Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy www.rep.routledge.com PhilPapers phipapers.org
http://www.rep.routledge.com/http://www.rep.routledge.com/ -
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