Learning objectives
The aim of this course is for the students to become aware of the gamut of methodological choices available in metaphysics; get a grasp of the interaction between linguistic choices and metaphysical theorizing; and assess the relevant debates in a critical and independent fashion.
QUINEAN METAONTOLOGY
Priest, Logic (ch. 3, 4)
Quine, On what there is.
Van Inwagen, Meta-Ontology
Lewis & Lewis, Holes.
STRUCTURE
Sider, Ontological realism
DEFLATIONISM
Hirsch Quantifier variance and realism.
GROUND
Schaffer, On what grounds what.
Hofweber, Ambitious, yet Modest, Metaphysics.
TRUTHMAKING
Cameron, How to Be a Truthmaker Maximalist.
PLURALISM
McDaniel, Ways of Being.
Van Inwagen, Modes of Being and Quantification.
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of classical predicate logic is strongly recommended.
Course unit content
The course will cover a number of topics in contemporary metametaphysics such as the Quinean orthodoxy, structure, deflationism, ground, truthmaking, and pluralism.
Full programme
In 1998 Peter van Inwagen coined the term ‘metaontology’ to refer to study of the methodology of ontology. More generally, metametaphysics is the study of the methodology of metaphysics.
The course is an introduction to contemporary metametaphysics. Starting with the development of the Quinean orthodoxy, we will then move on to more recent topics, such as the debate between realists and deflationists about ontological disagreement, as well as the rise of post-Quinean metametaphysical views.
The overarching theme of the course is how a choice of language is bound to affect the way metaphysics is carried out, as well as determine the kind of questions one will ask.
Bibliography
Cameron, Ross P. (2008). How to Be a Truthmaker Maximalist. Noûs 42 (3):410 - 421.
Hirsch, Eli (2002). Quantifier variance and realism. Philosophical Issues 12 (1):51-73.
Hofweber, T. (2009), ‘Ambitious, yet Modest, Metaphysics’, in Chalmers, Manley and Wasserman(eds), Metametaphysics. New Essays on the Foundations of Ontology. Oxford:Clarendon Press, pp. 260–89.
Lewis, David K. & Lewis, Stephanie (1970). Holes. Australasian Journal of Philosophy 48 (2):206 – 212.
McDaniel, K. (2009), ‘Ways of Being’, in Chalmers, Manley and Wasserman (eds), Metametaphysics. New Essays on the Foundations of Ontology. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 290–319.
Priest, Graham (2000). Logic: a very short introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.
Quine, Willard Van Orman (1948). On What There Is. Review of Metaphysics 2 (5):21-38.
Schaffer, Jonathan (2009). On what grounds what. In David Manley, David J. Chalmers & Ryan Wasserman (eds.), Metametaphysics: New Essays on the Foundations of Ontology. Oxford University Press. pp. 347-383.
Sider, Theodore (2009). Ontological realism. In David Chalmers, David Manley & Ryan Wasserman (eds.), Metametaphysics: New Essays on the Foundations of Ontology. Oxford University Press. pp. 384--423.
Van Inwagen, Peter (1998). Meta-Ontology. Erkenntnis 48:233-250.
Van Inwagen, Peter (2014). Modes of Being and Quantification. Disputatio 6 (38):1-24.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons.
Assessment methods and criteria
Esame orale.
Other information
