Chains of Being: Infinite Regress, Circularity, and Metaphysical Explanation

265 Pages·2022·2.2 MB·English

by  Ross P. Cameron

OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
Chains of Being
OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
Chains of Being
fi
In nite Regress, Circularity,
and Metaphysical Explanation
ROSS P. CAMERON
1
OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
3
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OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
ForElizabeth,BreccanandRowan,
andinmemoryofWillowandKenna
OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
OUPCORRECTEDPROOF–FINAL,27/1/2022,SPi
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1. InfiniteRegress 11
1.1 InfiniteRegresses:ViciousandBenign 11
1.2 PluralismaboutViciousness 13
1.2.1 RegressandContradiction 14
1.2.2 RegressandFailureofAnalysis 16
1.2.3 ContingentlyViciousRegresses 21
1.3 RelativismaboutViciousness 26
1.4 OntologicalDependenceandRegress 38
1.4.1 DependenceRegressesandMetaphysicalFoundationalism 38
1.4.2 InfinitelyManyFiniteChainsversusInfinitelyMany
InfiniteChains 43
2. SetTheory,InfiniteRegress,andCircularity 50
2.1 Parts,Sets,andOntologicalDependence 50
2.2 Non-Well-FoundedSetTheories 57
2.3 InPraiseofBoffaSetTheory 69
2.4 BoffaSetTheoryandOntologicalDependence 82
3. RegressandExplanation 88
3.1 DependenceRegressesandExplanation 88
3.2 MetaphysicalDeterminationandMetaphysicalExplanation 109
3.2.1 OntologicalDependenceandGroundingwithoutExplanation 110
3.2.2 GroundingintheImageofMultiple-ConclusionLogic 119
3.3 MetaphysicalExplanation 128
3.3.1 DependenceRegresseswithoutExplanation 128
3.3.2 “WhatItIs”ClaimsandMetaphysicalExplanation 134
3.3.3 ResistingtheCollapsetoFoundationalism 144
4. CirclesofDependence 157
4.1 TheThreatofCircularity 157
4.2 EpistemicandMetaphysicalHolism 160
4.2.1 EpistemicHolism 160
4.2.2 MetaphysicalHolism 163
4.3 HolisticMetaphysics 168
4.3.1 TheInterdependenceofSexualityandGender 169
4.3.2 MathematicalStructuralismandComplexNumbers 176
4.3.3 TheInterdependenceofPersons 184
4.4 DeepversusShallowMetaphysicalHolism 191
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viii 
5. Grounding,Circularity,andRegress 201
5.1 Grounding 201
5.2 TheTruth-TellerandtheNo-NoParadox 205
5.3 Truth,Non-ClassicalLogic,andLöb’sTheorem 209
5.4 Grounding,Circles,Regress,andExplanation 219
5.5 MetaphysicalHolism,Dialetheism,andSocialConstruction 227
Conclusion 236
References 237
Index 249
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Acknowledgments
Thanks to: Matthew Andler, David Baker, Jc Beall, Karen Bennett, Ricki Bliss,
DavidChalmers,SarahColquhoun,RoyCook,AaronCotnoir,ShamikDasgupta,
GabrielDay,DanielDeasy,LouisdeRosset,JohnDivers,TomDonaldson,Kenny
Easwaran,MaeganFairchild,BrandenFitelson,DanielGreco,SukainaHirji,Hud
Hudson,ZacharyIrving,StephanKraemer,KrisMcDaniel,KerryMcKenzie,Ned
Markosian,ChrisMenzel,TrentonMerricks,DanielNolan,JoshParsons,Laurie
Paul, Graham Priest, Agustin Rayo, Adam Rieger, Jonathan Schaffer, Amy
Seymour, Ted Sider, Jason Turner, Christina Van Dyke, Pekka Väyrynen, Lori
Watson, Robbie Williams, Al Wilson, Jessica Wilson, Daniel Wodak, and two
readersforOxfordUniversityPressforveryvaluablecommentsanddiscussion.
Mostofall,thankstoElizabethBarnes:thefirstpersonIbounceanideaoff,my
finalproof-reader,andmyconstantsourceofsupport.
Almost all of the material in this book is previously unpublished, but there is
someoverlapbetweenchapter1andmyentryonInfiniteRegressArgumentsin
the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. I am grateful to the editors of the
StanfordEncyclopediaforpermissiontore-usesomeofthatmaterialhere.