Table Of Content

Metaphysics Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction is for students who have already com- pleted an introductory philosophy course and need a fresh look at the central topics in the core subject of metaphysics. It is essential reading for any student of the subject. This Fourth Edition is revised and updated and includes two new chapters on (1) Parts and Wholes, and (2) Metaphysical Indeterminacy or vagueness. This new edition also keeps the user-friendly format, the chapter overviews summarizing the main topics, concrete examples to clarify diffi cult concepts, annotated further reading at the end of each chapter, endnotes, and a full bibliography. T opics addressed include: • the problem of universals • the nature of abstract entities • the problem of individuation • the nature of modality • identity through time • the nature of time • the nature of parts and wholes • the problem of metaphysical indeterminacy • the Realism/anti-Realism debate. W herever possible, Michael J. Loux and Thomas M. Crisp relate contemporary views to their classical sources in the history of philosophy. As experienced teachers of philosophy and important contributors to recent debates, Loux and Crisp are uniquely qualifi ed to write this book. Michael J. Loux is Shuster Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, USA. He is also editor of M etaphysics: Contemporary Readings , designed to accompany this textbook and also published by Routledge. His book S ubstance and Attribute (1978) is one of the major metaphysics books of recent years. Thomas M. Crisp is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Biola University, USA. He has published widely on topics in metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of religion. Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy Series editor: Paul K. Moser , Loyola University of Chicago This innovative, well-structured series is for students who have already done an introductory course in philosophy. Each book introduces a core general subject in contemporary philosophy and offers students an accessible but substantial transition from introductory to higher-level college work in that subject. The series is accessible to nonspecialists, and each book clearly motivates and expounds the problems and positions introduced. An orientating chapter briefl y introduces its topic and reminds readers of any crucial material they need to have retained from a typical introductory course. Considerable attention is given to explaining the central philosophical problems of a subject and the main com- peting solutions and arguments for those solutions. The primary aim is to educate students in the main problems, positions and arguments of contemporary philosophy rather than to convince students of a single position. Published Volumes Philosophy of Art Philosophy of Perception Noël Carroll William Fish Philosophy of Biology Philosophy of Psychology Alex Rosenberg and Daniel W. McShea José Luis Bermudez Philosophy of Economics Philosophy of Religion Julian Reiss 2nd Edition Keith E. Yandell Philosophy of Language 2nd Edition Philosophy of Science William G. Lycan 3rd Edition Alex Rosenberg Philosophy of Mathematics 2nd Edition Philosophy of Social Science James Robert Brown Mark Risjord Philosophy of Mind Social and Political Philosophy 3rd Edition John Christman William Fish Metaphysics A Contemporary Introduction Fourth Edition Michael J. Loux and Thomas M. Crisp Fourth edition published 2017 by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 and by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2017 Taylor & Francis The right of Michael J. Loux and Thomas M. Crisp to be identifi ed as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe. First edition published by Routledge 1998 Third edition published by Routledge 2006 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Names: Loux, Michael J., author. | Crisp, Thomas M., author. Title: Metaphysics : a contemporary introduction / Michael J. Loux & Thomas M . Crisp. Description: New York City: Routledge, 2017. | Series: Routledge c ontemporary introductions to philosophy | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifi ers: LCCN 201602955 1 (print) | LCCN 2016035270 (ebook) | ISBN 9 781138639331 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138639348 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781315637242 ( ebook) | ISBN 9781315637242 (eBook) Subjects: LCSH: Metaphysics. Classifi cation: LCC BD131 .L83 2017 (print) | LCC BD131 (ebook) | DDC 1 10—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016029551 ISBN: 978-1-138-63933-1 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-138-63934-8 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-63724-2 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman and Gill Sans by Apex CoVantage, LLC For Dian, Alison, Madeline, and Peyton Contents Preface to First Edition xi Preface to Second Edition xiii Preface to Third Edition xiv Preface to Fourth Edition xv I ntroduction 1 Overview 1 The Nature of Metaphysics—Some Historical Refl ections 2 Metaphysics as Category Theory 10 Notes 15 Further Reading 15 1 The Problem of Universals I: Metaphysical Realism 17 Overview 17 Realism and Nominalism 17 The Ontology of Metaphysical Realism 19 Realism and Predication 21 Realism and Abstract Reference 26 Restrictions on Realism—Exemplifi cation 29 Further Restrictions—Defi ned and Undefi ned Predicates 35 Are There Any Unexemplifi ed Attributes? 39 Notes 42 Further Reading 44 2 The Problem of Universals II: Nominalism 45 Overview 45 The Motivation for Nominalism 45 Austere Nominalism 50 Metalinguistic Nominalism 60 Trope Theory 70 Fictionalism 77 Notes 79 Further Reading 81 viii Contents 3 Concrete Particulars I: Substrata, Bundles, and Substances 82 Overview 82 Substratum and Bundle Theories 83 An Objection to the Bundle Theory—Subject-Predicate Discourse 90 Another Objection to the Bundle Theory—the Identity of Indiscernibles 94 An Argument for the Substratum Theory 99 Problems for the Substratum Theory 101 Aristotelian Substances 104 Notes 114 Further Reading 116 4 Propositions and Their Neighbors 118 Overview 118 The Traditional Theory of Propositions 118 Nominalism about Propositions 127 Facts, States of Affairs, and Events 139 Notes 146 Further Reading 148 5 The Necessary and the Possible 149 Overview 149 Problems about Modality 150 Possible Worlds 154 Possible Worlds Nominalism 157 The Metaphysics of Possible Worlds Nominalism— David Lewis 162 Actualism and Possible Worlds—Alvin Plantinga 168 Notes 179 Further Reading 180 6 Causation 181 Overview 181 Hume’s Account of Causation 181 The Response to Hume 186 Neo-Humean Approaches 189 Notes 196 Further Reading 197 7 The Nature of Time 198 Overview 198 McTaggart’s Argument 198 The B-Theory 205 Contents ix The A-Theory 209 The New B-Theory 216 Notes 221 Further Reading 222 8 Concrete Particulars II: Persistence through Time 223 Overview 223 Two Theories of Persistence—Endurantism and Perdurantism 223 Persistence and the Nature of Time 227 The Ontology of Perdurantism 231 An Argument for Perdurantism—Change in Properties 235 A Second Argument for Perdurantism—Change in Parts 239 Notes 248 Further Reading 249 9 Concrete Particulars III: Parts and Wholes 250 Overview 250 The Problem of the Many 251 Mereological Nihilism 253 Mereological Moderatism 255 Mereological Universalism 263 Constitution Metaphysics 264 Partism 267 Relative Identity 269 Simple Universalism 271 Notes 275 Further Reading 278 10 Metaphysical Indeterminacy 279 Overview 279 What Is Metaphysical Indeterminacy? 280 Epistemic Indeterminacy 283 Examples of Metaphysical Indeterminacy? 287 Composition and Metaphysical Indeterminacy 287 Future Contingents and Metaphysical Indeterminacy 290 Quantum Physics and Metaphysical Indeterminacy 292 Linguistic and Metaphysical Indeterminacy 292 Moral Indeterminacy and Metaphysical Indeterminacy 294 Evans’s Argument Against Vague Identity 295 Notes 301 Further Reading 303 11 The Challenge of Anti-Realism 304 Overview 304 Two Views about the Nature of Reality 304