Overview

Many significant problems in metaphysics are tied to ontological questions, but ontology and its relation to larger questions in metaphysics give rise to a series of puzzles that suggest that we don't fully understand what ontology is supposed to do, nor what ambitions metaphysics can have for finding out about what the world is like. Thomas Hofweber aims to solve these puzzles about ontology and consequently to make progress on four metaphysical debates tied to ontology: the philosophy of arithmetic, the metaphysics of ordinary objects, the problem of universals, and the question of whether the fact-like aspect of reality is independent of us. Crucial parts of the proposed solution involve considerations about quantification and its relationship to ontology, the place of reference in natural languages, the relationship between syntactic form and focus, whether there could be any ineffable facts, and others.Overall, Hofweber defends a rationalist account of arithmetic, an empiricist picture in the philosophy of ordinary objects, a restricted from of nominalism, and realism about reality, understood as all there is, but idealism about reality, understood as all that is the case. He defends metaphysics as having some questions of fact that are distinctly its own, with a limited form of autonomy from other parts of inquiry, but rejects several metaphysical projects and approaches as being based on a mistake.

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9780198802235

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Reviews

This book unifies and extends the author's previous work across metaphysics and the philosophy of language and logic with a careful eye toward the foundations of ontology. The result is rich, skilfully crafted, and mandatory for anyone working in (meta-)ontology or nearby areas in the philosophy of mathematics and language where entities like numbers, properties and propositions generate controversy. It will repay a careful reader's interest many times over. * Sam Cowling, The Philosophical Quarterly * Thomas Hofweber's book brings together, inter-weaves, and expands upon the author's seminal work on the ontology of numbers - as well as properties, propositions, and ordinary objects - from the past ten or so years. The book is thematically varied and rich in interesting discussions and insights. The writing is lucid, discussions of rival positions are fair, arguments are developed carefully, and crucial junctures are appropriately sign-posted. Thus, the book is both an enjoyable and an instructive read and can be highly recommended to everyone interested in any of the topics covered. * Robert Schwartzkopff, Zeitschrift fur philosophische Forschung * Thomas Hofweber has written a very rich book. * Gabriel Uzquiano, Analysis Book Symposium * this is a fantastic book ... It is highly original, full of interesting ideas, impressive in its scope, and manages to be accessible without sacrificing rigor. ... it deserves to have a lasting impact on the field. * David Kovacs, The Journal of Philosophy *

Rich and rewarding ... Hofweber offers a beautiful picture of natural numbers, properties, and facts. * Thomas Sattig, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research Book Symposium * Thomas Hofweber's Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics is ambitious, thoughtprovoking, and a good read. It expands upon a project he's developed in several previous papers-a project that seamlessly weaves together both metaphysics and metametaphysics. The book is as much about methodology as it is about the substantive conclusions he draws about what there is. As a consequence, it is a long book that covers a lot of ground. * Karen Bennett, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research Book Symposium * Hofweber has written a first-rate book, chock-full of insight. It sets forth an ambitious research program, aimed at producing a linguistically informed philosophy of arithmetic. If the project succeeds, it will deliver unusually illuminating answers to longstanding philosophical questions. * AgustIn Rayo, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research Book Symposium * Thomas Hofweber's Ontology and the Ambitions of Metaphysics (2016) contains lots of interesting and challenging ideas and arguments, together amounting to an original, systematic, well-argued perspective on metaphysics. Hofweber's work is a highly significant contribution to the contemporary metaphysical discussion. * Matti Eklund, Analysis * This book unifies and extends the author's previous work across metaphysics and the philosophy of language and logic with a careful eye toward the foundations of ontology. The result is rich, skilfully crafted, and mandatory for anyone working in (meta-)ontology or nearby areas in the philosophy of mathematics and language where entities like numbers, properties and propositions generate controversy. It will repay a careful reader's interest many times over. * Sam Cowling, The Philosophical Quarterly * Thomas Hofweber's book brings together, inter-weaves, and expands upon the author's seminal work on the ontology of numbers - as well as properties, propositions, and ordinary objects - from the past ten or so years. The book is thematically varied and rich in interesting discussions and insights. The writing is lucid, discussions of rival positions are fair, arguments are developed carefully, and crucial junctures are appropriately sign-posted. Thus, the book is both an enjoyable and an instructive read and can be highly recommended to everyone interested in any of the topics covered. * Robert Schwartzkopff, Zeitschrift fu r philosophische Forschung * Thomas Hofweber has written a very rich book. * Gabriel Uzquiano, Analysis Book Symposium * this is a fantastic book ... It is highly original, full of interesting ideas, impressive in its scope, and manages to be accessible without sacrificing rigor. ... it deserves to have a lasting impact on the field. * David Kovacs, The Journal of Philosophy *

This book unifies and extends the author's previous work across metaphysics and the philosophy of language and logic with a careful eye toward the foundations of ontology. The result is rich, skilfully crafted, and mandatory for anyone working in (meta-)ontology or nearby areas in the philosophy of mathematics and language where entities like numbers, properties and propositions generate controversy. It will repay a careful reader's interest many times over. * Sam Cowling, The Philosophical Quarterly *

Author Information

Thomas Hofweber is professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research specializes in metaphysics and the philosophy of language. He studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Munich, before completing his PhD at Stanford University. Before moving to North Carolina, he taught at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

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