The Problem of Universals in Contemporary Philosophy

Erscheinungsjahr 2017
ISBN: 978-1-107-49834-1
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 241 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 357 g

Are there any universal entities? Or is the world populated only by particular things? The problem of universals is one of the most fascinating and enduring topics in the history of metaphysics, with roots in ancient and medieval philosophy. This collection of new essays provides an innovative overview of the contemporary debate on universals. Rather than focusing exclusively on the traditional opposition between realism and nominalism, the contributors explore the complexity of the debate and illustrate a broad range of positions within both the realist and the nominalist camps. Realism is viewed through the lens of the distinction between constituent and relational ontologies, while nominalism is reconstructed in light of the controversy over the notion of trope. The result is a fresh picture of contemporary metaphysics, in which traditional strategies of dealing with the problem of universals are both reaffirmed and called into question.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Galluzzo, Gabriele

Loux, Michael J.

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Mathematik Allgemein Philosophie der Mathematik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Moderne Philosophische Disziplinen Analytische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Erkenntnistheorie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sprachphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Mittelalterliche & Scholastische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Metaphysik, Ontologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften Sprachphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophie der Mathematik, Philosophie der Physik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction Gabriele Galluzzo and Michael J. Loux; 1. An exercise in constituent ontology Michael J. Loux; 2. Against ontological structure Peter Van Inwagen; 3. In defense of substantial universals E. J. Lowe; 4. A kind farewell to Platonism: for an Aristotelian understanding of kinds and properties Gabriele Galluzzo; 5. Universals in a world of particulars John Heil; 6. Is trope theory a divided house? Robert K. Garcia; 7. Tropes and the generality of laws Sophie Gibb; 8. On the origins of order: non-symmetric or only symmetric relation? Fraser MacBride; 9. States of affairs and the relation regress Anna-Sofia Maurin.

Über Autor(innen)

Galluzzo, Gabriele
Gabriele Galluzzo is Lecturer in Ancient Philosophy in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter.

Loux, Michael J.
Michael Loux is George N. Shuster Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.