There are no statues. Or rocks. Or chairs. Or stars. But there are microscopic objects arranged statuewise and rockwise and chairwise and starwise. Moreover, there are--in addition to microscopic objects arranged humanwise--composite human beings. Or so Trenton Merricks argues. The ontology of Objects and Persons is motivated, in large part, by causal considerations. One of the central ideas is that physical objects are causally non-redundant: physical objects cause things that are not wholly overdetermined by their proper parts. Merricks 'eliminates' statues and other inanimate composite macrophysical objects on the grounds that they would--if they existed--be at best completely causally redundant. Merricks defends our existence by arguing, from certain facts about mental causation, that we human beings cause things that are not overdetermined by our proper parts. A second strand of argument for Merricks's overall ontology involves a variety of philosophical puzzles, puzzles that are dealt with in illuminating and often novel ways. Many other issues are addressed along the way, including free will, the 'reduction' of a composite object to its parts, and the ways in which identity over time can "for practical purposes" be a matter of convention. Anyone working in metaphysics will enjoy this lucid and provocative book.
發表於2024-11-14
Objects and Persons 2024 pdf epub mobi 電子書 下載
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感覺”Do Composite Objects exist? No”的paper作為companion讓書好理解瞭一些,主要我在mereology的背景知識上瞭解得太不充足瞭,邊讀邊補SEP,課上的術語解析也很有幫助。Chapter 3確實是經典,敘述瞭一個causal theory,然後建立在causal theory的四個方麵上去defend非生命composite物體的不存在。不過還是感覺書裏的theory密度有點高誒。可以說是metaphysics of material objects裏defend mereological nihilism比較經典的一本書。
評分嚴重概念不清。
評分嚴重概念不清。
評分嚴重概念不清。
評分嚴重概念不清。
Objects and Persons 2024 pdf epub mobi 電子書 下載