Metaphysics and Ontology without Myths

Abstract

Metaphysics and ontology feature among the traditional and fundamental concerns of philosophers. Gaining a picture of the world and the kind of objects that exist out there is for most philosophers (past and present) a preliminary aim upon which other theoretical activities depend. In fact, it seems that sound conclusions on topics relevant to ethics, aesthetics, psychology, and common and scientific knowledge can be achieved only after one has been given a picture of that sort.

What is worth stressing, though, is that from time to time the tribunal of history has managed to put its finger on some flawed conclusions. To take a time-worn example, who would now accept Plato’s claim that the spatiotemporal world is just an imperfect copy of a world of abstract objects conceived of as perfect unchanging models of concrete things? The picture Plato gave us is nothing but a myth – an account which is too far away from what common sense and science could accept, too detached from the usual ways of conducting a rational discussion. Therefore, pictures of this kind appear to be supported by nothing but dogmas, i.e. uncompromising principles taken as true without any previous critical analysis. And Plato has no shortage of company.

Issues of this kind revolving around metaphysics and ontology are tackled in the essays in this volume, which approach a secular debate in fresh and original ways, providing the necessary tools for clearing the field of unpalatable metaphysical and ontological items.

Index

Introductory Note ………………………………………………………………………….. vii
Fabio Bacchini, Stefano Caputo and Massimo Dell’Utri
Chapter One ……………………………………………………………………………………. 1
The Myth of the Distinction between Ontology and Metaphysics
Andrea Bottani
Chapter Two …………………………………………………………………………………. 16
Realism in the Desert
Achille Varzi
Chapter Three ……………………………………………………………………………….. 32
Realism and Truth from a Quinean Point of View
Antonio Rainone
Chapter Four …………………………………………………………………………………. 48
Why Antirealists Can’t Explain Success
Mario Alai
Chapter Five …………………………………………………………………………………. 67
The Content Challenge to Nominalism about Mathematics
Matteo Plebani
Chapter Six …………………………………………………………………………………… 83
Is There Such a Thing as Metaphysical Knowledge?
Claudine Tiercelin
Chapter Seven ……………………………………………………………………………… 101
The Identity of Indiscernibles and the Principle of No Co-location
Roberto Casati and Giuliano Torrengo
Chapter Eight ………………………………………………………………………………. 110
New Realism, Documentality and the Emergence of Normativity
Maurizio Ferraris
Chapter Nine ……………………………………………………………………………….. 125
Why Society Is Not Made of Documents
Richard Davies
Chapter Ten ………………………………………………………………………………… 139
How to Incorporate (with) Documents
Petar Bojanić
Chapter Eleven ……………………………………………………………………………. 153
To Be Realist With History: What Really Are Historical Documents?
Stefano Vaselli
Abstracts …………………………………………………………………………………….. 170
Contributors ………………………………………………………………………………… 175
Index of Names……………………………………………………………………………. 178