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Meta-metaphysics - On Metaphysical Equivalence, Primitiveness, and Theory Choice (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
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Meta-metaphysics - On Metaphysical Equivalence, Primitiveness, and Theory Choice (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2016)
Series: Synthese Library, 374
Expected to ship within 12 - 17 working days
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Metaphysical theories are beautiful. At the end of this book, Jiri
Benovsky defends the view that metaphysical theories possess
aesthetic properties and that these play a crucial role when it
comes to theory evaluation and theory choice.Before we get there,
the philosophical path the author proposes to follow starts with
three discussions of metaphysical equivalence. Benovsky argues that
there are cases of metaphysical equivalence, cases of partial
metaphysical equivalence, as well as interesting cases of theories
that are not equivalent. Thus, claims of metaphysical equivalence
can only be raised locally. The slogan is: the best way to do
meta-metaphysics is to do first-level metaphysics.To do this work,
Benovsky focuses on the nature of primitives and on the role they
play in each of the theories involved. He emphasizes the utmost
importance of primitives in the construction of metaphysical
theories and in the subsequent evaluation of them.He then raises
the simple but complicated question: how to make a choice between
competing metaphysical theories? If two theories are equivalent,
then perhaps we do not need to make a choice. But what about all
the other cases of non-equivalent "equally good" theories? Benovsky
uses some of the theories discussed in the first part of the book
as examples and examines some traditional meta-theoretical criteria
for theory choice (various kinds of simplicity, compatibility with
physics, compatibility with intuitions, explanatory power, internal
consistency,...) only to show that they do not allow us to make a
choice.But if the standard meta-theoretical criteria cannot help us
in deciding between competing non-equivalent metaphysical theories,
how then shall we make that choice? This is where Benovsky argues
that metaphysical theories possess aesthetic properties - grounded
in non-aesthetic properties - and that these play a crucial role in
theory choice and evaluation. This view, as well as all the
meta-metaphysical considerations discussed throughout the book,
then naturally lead the author to a form of anti-realism, and at
the end of the journey he offers reasons to think better of the
kind of anti-realist view he proposes to embrace.
www.jiribenovsky.org
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