Nature's Metaphysics

Laws and Properties
Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-0-19-957311-0
Verlag: OUP Oxford

Buch, Englisch, 246 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 380 g

Nature's Metaphysics argues that a satisfactory philosophy of science requires a metaphysics that is based on the understanding that natural properties are essentially dispositional. Alexander Bird develops a dispositional essentialist account of the laws of nature, defending the claim that laws are metaphysically necessary. Professional philosophers and advanced students working in metaphysics and the philosophy of science will find this book both provocative and stimulating.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bird, Alexander

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Wissenschaften: Theorie, Epistemologie, Methodik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Wissenschaftstheorie, Wissenschaftsphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Metaphysik, Ontologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- 1: Introduction - laws and properties

- 2: Dispositions

- 3: Dispositional essentialism and the laws of nature

- 4: Categoricalism

- 5: Dispositional essentialism, modality, and intentionality

- 6: The regress objection

- 7: Structural properties

- 8: The illusion of nomic contingency

- 9: Are there any laws, and if so what are they?

- 10: Concluding remarks

- References

Über Autor(innen)

Alexander Bird is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol.