Metaphysics : the elements

A Comprehensive Introductory Study Of The Key Concepts And Problems In Traditional And Contemporary Metaphysics. Aune Presents And Defends A Point Of View That Is Naturalistic, Nominalistic And Pragmatic-an Approach That Has The Overall Advantage Of Providing A Coherent, Structured View Of The Topics He Discusses. Bruce Aune. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 223-227. CONTENTS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 12 Aristotle and the Origins of Metaphysics......Page 18 Aristotle on Being......Page 22 The Current Subject of Metaphysics......Page 25 Existence and Definite Descriptions......Page 28 Logical Fictions and Logical Constructions......Page 31 Russell on Numbers and Classes......Page 34 Ontological Reductionism......Page 37 Russell on Fundamental Existence......Page 39 Russell on Existential Quantification......Page 42 A New Problem about Existence......Page 45 Existence and the World......Page 47 Traditional Arguments for Universals......Page 52 Problems with the Theory of Universals......Page 57 Problems about Particulars......Page 61 The Failure of a Theory......Page 65 Attributes, Facts, and Truth......Page 67 Conceptualism......Page 69 Concluding Remarks......Page 70 Abstract Singular Terms......Page 72 Criteria of Ontological Commitment......Page 76 Propositions and Adverbial Clauses......Page 78 Propositions and Logical Subjects......Page 80 Statements and Beliefs......Page 82 Possibilities and Fictional Objects......Page 85 Other Possibilities......Page 87 Concluding Remarks on Abstracta......Page 89 Continuants and Change......Page 92 The Problem of the Ship of Theseus......Page 97 Problems of Personal Identity......Page 101 Memory, Personality, and Self-Identity......Page 106 Descartes on the Self......Page 110 Cerebral Commisurotomy and Survival after Death......Page 114 Continuants and Events......Page 120 Events and Time......Page 123 Time without Events......Page 126 Space and Causation......Page 129 Causal Laws......Page 135 More on Things and Events......Page 139 Metaphysical Realism and Descriptive Metaphysics......Page 141 Adverbs and Ontology......Page 146 Theories of Truth......Page 150 The Semantic Conception of Truth......Page 152 Truth and Meaning......Page 156 Davidson on Interpretation......Page 158 The Power of Charity......Page 162 Meaning and Indeterminacy......Page 164 Interpretation and Speaker's Meaning......Page 168 Interpretation and Temporal Connectives......Page 170 Truth and Metaphysics......Page 172 The Immediate Objects of Perception......Page 176 Berkeley's Criticism of Locke......Page 179 Existence "In the Mind"......Page 181 Skepticism and Phenomenalism......Page 184 Kant's Metaphysics of Experience......Page 187 Objections to Classical Empiricism......Page 191 A Revision of Classical Empiricism......Page 193 The Mental and the Physical......Page 196 Freedom and Determinism......Page 202 Freedom and Unmoved Moving......Page 204 Explanations of Purposive Behavior......Page 206 The Libertarian Position......Page 207 The Reconciler Position......Page 209 Freedom and Morality......Page 211 Two Conceptions of Freedom......Page 214 The Freedom of Spontaneity......Page 216 NOTES......Page 222 REFERENCES......Page 238 C......Page 246 H......Page 247 O......Page 248 R......Page 249 Z......Page 250