Scientific metaphysics / edited by Don Ross, James Ladyman, and Harold Kincaid.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ross, Don, 1962-

Ladyman, James, 1969-

Kincaid, Harold, 1952-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Metaphysics.

Philosophy and science.

Physical Description:

x, 243 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2013.

Summary:

Scientific Metaphysics collects original essays by some of the world's leading philosophers of science on the question of whether metaphysics can and should be naturalized-that is, conducted as a part of natural science. Some people think that the idea of naturalized metaphysics is a contradiction in terms, on the grounds that metaphysics is by definition about matters that transcend the domain of empirical inquiry. Most of the authors here disagree, and hold that if metaphysics is to hold out any prospect of identifying objective truths, it must be continuous with and inspired by science. Many go further, and argue that it should be conducted in such a way as to be of some positive use to science. But beyond this each contributor differs with one another on numerous points of detail and emphasis. The essays presented here offer various points of view on the relationship between naturalized metaphysics, more traditional forms of metaphysics, and the wider history of philosophy. The discussions are rich in examples drawn from across the sciences: physics, biology, economics, psychology, and others. Several chapters explore new ideas about the complex relationships between metaphysics, physics, and mathematics. At stake, in the end, is the question of whether metaphysics should give way to science and disappear from contemporary inquiry, or continue as an activity that unifies the particular sciences into a single naturalistic worldview. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction : pursuing a naturalist metaphysics / Harold Kincaid

On the prospects of naturalized metaphysics / Anjan Chakravartty

Scientific ontology and speculative ontology / Paul Humphreys

Can metaphysics be naturalized? : and if so, how? / Andrew Melnyk

Kinds of things : towards a bestiary of the manifest image / Daniel C. Dennett

The world in the data / James Ladyman and Don Ross

What can contemporary philosophy learn from our 'scientific philosophy' heritage? / Mark Wilson

Neo-Kantianism, scientific realism, and modern physics / Michael Friedman

Some remarks on 'naturalism' as we now have it / Mark Wilson

Causation, free will, and naturalism / Jenann Ismael.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780199696499

0199696497

OCLC:

796758492