Overview
"While the phrase ""metaphysics of science"" has been used from time to time, it has only recently begun to denote a specific research area where metaphysics meets philosophy of science—and the sciences themselves. The essays in this volume demonstrate that metaphysics of science is an innovative field of research in its own right. The principle areas covered are: The modal metaphysics of properties: What is the essential nature of natural properties? Are all properties essentially categorical? Are they all essentially dispositions, or are some categorical and others dispositional? Realism in mathematics and its relation to science: What does a naturalistic commitment of scientific realism tell us about our commitments to mathematical entities? Can this question be framed in something other than a Quinean philosophy? Dispositions and their relation to causation: Can we generate an account of causation that takes dispositionality as fundamental? And if we take dispositions as fundamental (and hence not having a categorical causal basis), what is the ontological ground of dispositions? Pandispositionalism: Could all properties be dispositional in nature? Natural kinds: Are there natural kinds, and if so what account of their nature should we give? For example, do they have essences? Here we consider how these issues may be illuminated by considering examples from reals science, in particular biochemistry and neurobiology."
Full Product Details
Author: Alexander Bird (University of Bristol, UK) ,
Brian Ellis (La Trobe University, Australia) ,
Howard Sankey (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.453kg
ISBN: 9781138245280
ISBN 10: 1138245283
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 04 November 2016
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
I recommend this collection very highly to anyone who wants to become more familiar with contemporary realist metaphysics, its big issues, and the ways in which science can bear on metaphysics. -- Philosophy in Review
I recommend this collection very highly to anyone who wants to become more familiar with contemporary realist metaphysics, its big issues, and the ways in which science can bear on metaphysics. -- Philosophy in Review
Author Information
Alexander Bird is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol. Brian Ellis is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at La Trobe University and Professorial Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne. Howard Sankey is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.
