Part VI: Metaphysics

Chapter 18

Study questions for How do we do Metaphysics?

  1. Give examples of some questions that both empirical scientists and metaphysicians ask, and explain how their approach to answering these questions differs.
  2. What is conceptual analysis?
  3. What sorts of questions does metaphysics ask that science does not?
  4. What is an indispensability argument? Come up with a new example of such an argument.
  5. What is an example of something that you know a priori?
  6. Why is a priori reasoning important in metaphysics?

Multiple Choice Questions

Weblinks for How do we do metaphysics?

Baehr, J. (2006). ‘A Priori and A Posteriori’. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.iep.utm.edu/apriori/.

Colyvan, M. (2014). ‘Indispensability Arguments in the Philosophy of Mathematics’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta,        http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/mathphil-indis/.

van Inwagen, P. (2013). ‘Metaphysics’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2013/entries/metaphysics/.

Douven, I. (2011). ‘Abduction’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring), ed. Edward N. Zalta, http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2011/entries/abduction/.

Russell, B. (2014). ‘A Priori Justification and Knowledge’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer), ed. Edward N. Zalta,   http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2014/entries/apriori/.

Introductory further reading for How do we do metaphysics?

Ney, A. (2014). Metaphysics: An Introduction. Routledge.

Advanced further reading for How do we do metaphysics?

Russell, G. (2007). ‘Teaching and Learning Guide for The Analytic/Synthetic Distinction’. Philosophy Compass 3(1): 273–6.