Every Thing Must Go: Metaphysics NaturalizedEvery Thing Must Go argues that the only kind of metaphysics that can contribute to objective knowledge is one based specifically on contemporary science as it really is, and not on philosophers' a priori intuitions, common sense, or simplifications of science. In addition to showing how recent metaphysics has drifted away from connection with all other serious scholarly inquiry as a result of not heeding this restriction, they demonstrate how to build a metaphysicscompatible with current fundamental physics ('ontic structural realism'), which, when combined with their metaphysics of the special sciences ('rainforest realism'), can be used to unify physics with the other sciences without reducing these sciences to physics itself. Taking science metaphysically seriously,Ladyman and Ross argue, means that metaphysicians must abandon the picture of the world as composed of self-subsistent individual objects, and the paradigm of causation as the collision of such objects.Everything Must Go also assesses the role of information theory and complex systems theory in attempts to explain the relationship between the special sciences and physics, treading a middle road between the grand synthesis of thermodynamics and information, and eliminativism about information. The consequences of the author's metaphysical theory for central issues in the philosophy of science are explored, including the implications for the realism vs. empiricism debate, the role ofcausation in scientific explanations, the nature of causation and laws, the status of abstract and virtual objects, and the objective reality of natural kinds. |
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Contents
1 In Defence of Scientism | 1 |
2 Scientific Realism Constructive Empiricism and Structuralism | 66 |
3 Ontic Structural Realism and the Philosophy of Physics | 130 |
4 Rainforest Realism and the Unity of Science | 190 |
5 Causation in a Structural World | 258 |
6 ConclusionPhilosophy Enough | 298 |
| 311 | |
| 339 | |
Other editions - View all
Every Thing Must Go: Metaphysics Naturalized James Ladyman,Don Ross,David Spurrett,John Collier Limited preview - 2007 |
Every Thing Must Go: Metaphysics Naturalized James Ladyman,Don Ross,John Collier No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
according actual argues argument basis belief called causal causes Chapter claim classical commitment concept concerned consider consistent constructive context course defended deny describe discussion distinction empirical empiricism empiricist entities epistemic evidence example existence explain fact field forces formal Fraassen fundamental physics give given grounds Hence hypotheses idea important individuals interpretation intuitions kind laws least locators logical mathematical matter mean measurement mechanics metaphysics modal models motivated natural naturalistic Note notion objects observable ontological particles particular phenomena philosophers position possible practice predictive principle problem processes projectible properties quantum quantum mechanics question real patterns realism reality reason reference regarded relations relative requires respect scale scientific scientific realism scientists seems sense sort space spacetime special sciences specific structural realism structure success suggest supposed theoretical theory things true turn universe unobservable
Bibliographic information
| Title | Every Thing Must Go: Metaphysics Naturalized Oxford scholarship online |
| Authors | James Ladyman, Don Ross, Don Spurrett, David Spurrett, John Collier, John Gordon Collier |
| Contributor | Oxford University Press |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Clarendon Press, 2007 |
| ISBN | 0199276196, 9780199276196 |
| Length | 346 pages |
| Subjects | › › Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science / General Philosophy / Metaphysics Science / Physics / General |
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