Ontology A 3501-WISIP-OA
The course will cover the following core topics in modern analytic metaphysics (ontology):
- What is existence? Two conceptions of existence: property view and quantifier view. Ontological commitments. Numerical identity and qualitative identity (indiscernibility). The Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles and the Leibniz law.
- Universals and particulars. Realism vs. nominalism. Variants of realism (radical realism, moderate realism) and their connections with semantics (in particular the problem of abstract reference). Russell’s paradox and Bradley’s regress. Variants of nominalism (austere nominalism, metalinguistic nominalism, resemblance nominalism). Trope theory.
- Abstract objects and their definitional characteristics (non-spatiotemporality, mind-dependence, causal inertness). Mereological sets vs. distributive sets. Mathematical objects and their existence.
- Particular objects. The bundle theory of particulars and its problems. Bare substrata. The nuclear theory and the essential vs. accidental properties.
- Modal notions: necessity and possibility. Possible worlds and their interpretations. Modal realism vs. actualism. The necessity of identity. Identification of objects across possible worlds. Rigid designators.
- Metaphysics of truthmakers, truthmakers maximalism, optimalism and nihilism.
- Notion of metaphysical grounding, its relevance to logic, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language.
- Basic concepts of social ontology.
- The question of the nature of metaphysics, the debate between metaphysical realism and delfationism, methodology of metaphysics.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes.
The student:
Knows the basic concepts and problems in contemporary analytic ontology.
Is able to analyze and interpret philosophical texts related to ontology.
Is able to analyze and evaluate arguments typically used in ontological discourse.
Is able to present his/her views and arguments in oral discussions and in writing.
Is open to new ontological ideas and is ready to change his/her view in light of evidence and arguments.
Cooperates with other participants in the classroom.
Assessment criteria
See a relevant section below
Bibliography
Textbooks:
M.J. Loux, “Metaphysics: a contemporary introduction”, Routledge 2002,
E.J. Lowe, “A Survey of Metaphysics”, OUP 2002
T. Bigaj, “Metaphysics: a guided tour for beginners”, U. of Warsaw 2012
Readings:
W. van O. Quine, “On what there is”;
P. van Inwagen, “McGinn on Existence”;
M. Black, “The identity of indiscernibles”;
G. Rosen, “Abstract objects”;
J. van Cleve, “Three versions of the bundle theory”;
D. Lewis, “Possible worlds”
R. Stalnaker, “Possible worlds”;
S. Kripke, “Identity and necessity”;
F. Berto, “Impossible Worlds and Propositions: Against the Parity Thesis”;
K. Fine, “Essence and Modality”;
D.M. Armstrong “Truthmakers”;
K. Fine, “Guide to Ground”;
E. Hirsch, “Ontological arguments: interpretive charity and quantifier variance”
G. Rosen, C. Dorr “Composition as a Fiction”;
J. Searle, “What is an Institution?”.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: