Part VI: Metaphysics

Chapter 17

Study questions for What is Metaphysics?

  1. Come up with some new examples of things that exist according to the universalist about composition.
  2. On what view is it true that if there are tables, then they are not composite objects?
  3. According to which view are properties abstract objects?
  4. In your own words explain the difference between the A-theory and the B-theory of time.
  5. On which theory of causation might it be true that you caused the child to drown by failing to jump in and rescue the child?
  6. Do you think it is nomically possible that there be no gravity?
  7. Do you think it is a law of nature or a mere regularity that milk in a carton often spills to the floor, but that milk on the floor does not return to the carton?

Multiple Choice Questions

Weblinks for What is metaphysics?

Balaguer, M. (2014). ‘Platonism in Metaphysics’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/platonism/.

Carroll, J. W. (2012). ‘Laws of Nature’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2012/entries/laws-of-nature/.

Korman, D. (2014). ‘Ordinary Objects’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/ordinary-objects.

Markosian, N. (2014). ‘Time’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/time/.

Parent, T. (2012). ‘Modal Metaphysics’. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.iep.utm.edu/mod-meta/.

Rodriguez-Pereyra, G. (2011). ‘Nominalism in Metaphysics’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2011/entries/nominalism-metaphysics.

Schaffer, J. (2014). ‘The Metaphysics of Causation’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer), ed. Edward N.

Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2014/entries/causation-metaphysics/.

Varzi, A. (2014). ‘Mereology’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/mereology.

Introductory further reading for What is metaphysics?

Armstrong, D. M. (1989). Universals: An Opinionated Introduction. Westview Press.

Carroll, J. W. (2010). An Introduction to Metaphysics.Cambridge University Press.

Dyke, H. (2005). ‘The Metaphysics and Epistemology of Time Travel’. Think 9(9): 43–52.

Hoerl, C. (2011). ‘Introduction: Understanding Counterfactuals and Causation’. In Understanding Counterfactuals, Understanding Causation, eds C. Hoerl, T. McCormack and S. Beck. Oxford University Press.

Mumford, S. (2012). Metaphysics: A Very Short Introduction.Oxford University Press.

Mumford, S. and Anjum, R. L. (2013). Causation: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.

Phillips, I. (2014). ‘Experience of and in Time’. Philosophy Compass 9(2): 131–44.

Tallant, J. (2011). Metaphysics: An Introduction. Continuum.

Wasserman, R. (2010). ‘Teaching and Learning Guide for The Problem of Change’. Philosophy Compass 5(3): 283–6.

Advanced further reading for What is metaphysics?

McDaniel, K. (2010). ‘Parts and Wholes’. Philosophy Compass 5(5): 412–25.

Roca-Royes, S. (2011). ‘Essential Properties and Individual Essences’. Philosophy Compass 6(1): 65–77.

Thomasson, A. L. (2010). ‘The Controversy over the Existence of Ordinary Objects’. Philosophy 5(7): 591–601.