Overview

Stephen Makin offers an account of indifference arguments and the pre-Socratic atomism underpinned by this sort of reasoning. Used by Parmenides, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle and Leibniz, as well as some contemporary philosophers, indifference arguments start from claims about a balance of reasons or an absence of asymmetries. While some provide plausible support for strong conclusion, others produce no conviction. Makin offers an explanation of indifference arguments which provides answers to such philosopical questions as: what are indifference arguments?; what makes a good piece of indifference reasoning?; how do the arguments work?; do they involve claims about the rationality of belief?; and do they entail metaphysical commitments? He goes on to outline the significance of indifference arguments for contemporary philosophy. The account that is presented of the Emocritean atomic theory emphasises the continuity of atomism with earlier thought. A number of Zeno's arguments are considered, and there is some discussion of other Eleatics. Indifference arguments in other ancient philosophers, such as Anaximander and Aristotle, also receive attention. The book should be of interest to all those interested in ancient philosophy and philosophical logic.

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Stephen Makin has taught philosophy at Sheffield University since 1984. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and has been a Research Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He has published articles on ancient philosophy, Aquinas, and the philosophy of religion.

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