Deflating Existential Consequence Deflating Existential Consequence

Deflating Existential Consequence

A Case for Nominalism

    • €38.99
    • €38.99

Publisher Description

If we must take mathematical statements to be true, must we also believe in the existence of abstracta eternal invisible mathematical objects accessible only by the power of pure thought? Jody Azzouni says no, and he claims that the way to escape such commitments is to accept (as an essential part of scientific doctrine) true statements which are about objects that don't exist in any sense at all.
Azzouni illustrates what the metaphysical landscape looks like once we avoid a militant Realism which forces our commitment to anything that our theories quantify. Escaping metaphysical straitjackets (such as the correspondence theory of truth), while retaining the insight that some truths are about objects that do exist, Azzouni says that we can sort scientifically-given objects into two categories: ones which exist, and to which we forge instrumental access in order to learn their properties, and ones which do not, that is, which are made up in exactly the same sense that fictional objects are. He offers as a case study a small portion of Newtonian physics, and one result of his classification of its ontological commitments, is that it does not commit us to absolute space and time.

GENRE
Non-Fiction
RELEASED
2004
8 January
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
256
Pages
PUBLISHER
Oxford University Press
PROVIDER INFO
The Chancellor, Masters and Scholar s of the University of Oxford tradi ng as Oxford University Press
SIZE
1.3
MB
Ontology Without Borders Ontology Without Borders
2017
From Truth to Reality From Truth to Reality
2009
Oxford Studies in Metaphysics Volume 12 Oxford Studies in Metaphysics Volume 12
2020
The Nature of Scientific Theory The Nature of Scientific Theory
2014
Knowledge and Reference in Empirical Science Knowledge and Reference in Empirical Science
2013
Abstract Objects Abstract Objects
2020
Challenging Knowledge Challenging Knowledge
2025
Attributing Knowledge Attributing Knowledge
2020
Ontology Without Borders Ontology Without Borders
2017
The Rule-Following Paradox and its Implications for Metaphysics The Rule-Following Paradox and its Implications for Metaphysics
2017
Tracking Reason Tracking Reason
2005
Talking About Nothing Talking About Nothing
2010