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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END

a seminar on metaphysics

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