Classifying Reality: Oderberg/Classifying Reality

Distinguished metaphysicians examine issues central to the high-profile debate between philosophers over how to classify the natural world, and discuss issues in applied ontology such as the classification of diseases. • Leading metaphysicians explore fundamental questions related to the classification and structure of the natural world • An essential commentary on issues at the heart of the contemporary debate between philosophy and science • Interweaves discussion of overarching themes with detailed material on applied ontology Content: 1. Categorial Predication (E. J. Lowe) — 2. Nature's Joints: A Realistic Defence of Natural Properties (D. H. Mellor) — 3. Boundaries in Reality (Tuomas E. Tahko) — 4. Contrastive Explanations in Evolutionary Biology (Stephen Boulter) — 5. Animate Beings: Their Nature and Identity (Gary S. Rosenkrantz) — 6. Classifying Processes: An Essay in Applied Ontology (Barry Smith) Assembling the views of today s leading metaphysicians on primary issues concerning the structure of reality and its taxonomy, this collection gets straight to the heart of one of the most hotly contested debates between philosophers and scientists.