{"product_id":"varieties-of-things-isbn-9780631186946","title":"Varieties of Things","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVarieties of Things: Foundations of Contemporary Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e is about some of the most fundamental kinds of things that there are; the things that we encounter in everyday experience.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eA book about the things that we encounter in everyday experience.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eContains a thorough and accessible discussion of the nature and aims of metaphysics.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eExamines a wide range of ontological categories, including both particulars and universals.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMounts a forceful and persuasive case for anti-reductionism.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface vii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart I: Metaphysics and Its Tools\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 The Nature and Function of Metaphysics 3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Methodology and Subject Matter of Metaphysics 4\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAristotle’s Conception of Metaphysics 8\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKant’s Conception of Metaphysics 11\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Working Conception of Metaphysics 14\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 Some Tools of Metaphysics 36\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCriteria of Ontological Commitment: Two Examples 36\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e‘No Entity without Identity’: Identity Conditions for Objects 56\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndividuation Conditions, Identity Conditions, and Metaphysical Kinds 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrinciples and Criteria of Identity 63\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart II: Particulars\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3 Material Substances 79\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur Ontological Commitment to Material Substances 79\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Bundle Theory and the Principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eProblems with the Bundle Theory 84\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Bare Substratum Theory and the Principle of Acquaintance 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eObjections to the Bare Substratum Theory 113\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn Alternative 114\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 Persons and Personal Identity 135\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur Ontological Commitment to Persons 135\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCandidates for Persistence Conditions for Persons 138\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Closest Continuer Theory and Its Problems 150\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDoes the Concept of Identity Apply to Persons? 155\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Multiple Occupancy Thesis 162\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBack to Basics: Continuity and Fission 164\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Suggestion 169\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 Events 181\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur Ontological Commitment to Events 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThree Criteria: Spatio-temporal Coincidence, Necessary Spatio-temporal Coincidence, and Sameness of Cause and Effect 186\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Property Exemplification Account of Events (PEE) 193\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart III: Universals\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6 Universals and the Realism\/Nominalism Dispute 219\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Issue 223\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eVarieties of Nominalism 225\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwo Conceptions of Universals 236\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Regress Charge and Two Unsuccessful Attempts to Meet It 239\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn Alternative 245\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBibliography 260\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 272\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"[This] book is well written in a no-nonsense style. First Rate.\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Philosophical Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"An exceptionally good introduction and tour through central topics in contemporary metaphysics. The book could easily be used alone for an upper level course in metaphysics or as a commentary alongside original articles. It is written clearly, with illuminating examples and engaging discussion.\" (\u003ci\u003eReview of Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Macdonald's \u003ci\u003eVarieties of Things: Foundations of Contemporary Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e is an excellent study in ontology. It provides a descriptive metaphysical account of the ontology of material substances, persons, events, and universals. While the book provides a sophisticated account of the issues, it is written in a way that makes it accessible to an advanced undergraduate student audience. And given its novel defenses of some positions, it will also be of considerable interest to professional philosophers working on the issues\" \u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eBrian McLaughlin, Rutgers University\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Amongst the book’s most notable virtues are its clarity and the author’s careful attention to detail in setting out arguments and counter-arguments for various positions. The opening chapters on the nature of metaphysics are excellent. The later chapters on material substances, persons, events, and universals are thorough, closely argued and well informed.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJonathan Lowe, University of Durham\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003eCynthia Macdonald\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She is Associate Editor of the \u003ci\u003eAustralasian Journal of Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e and the author or editor of numerous publications, including \u003ci\u003eThe Philosophy of Psychology: Debates on Psychological Explanation \u003c\/i\u003e(co-edited with Graham Macdonald, Blackwell, 1994), \u003ci\u003eConnectionism: Debates on Psychological Explanation\u003c\/i\u003e (co-edited with Graham Macdonald, Blackwell, 1995) and \u003ci\u003eContemporary Readings in the Foundations of Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e (co-edited with Stephen Laurence, Blackwell, 1998).  \u003ci\u003eVarieties of Things: Foundations of Contemporary Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e explores the fundamental ontological categories of things; things that we encounter in everyday life, such as material substances, persons, events and universals. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe author begins with a thorough and accessible discussion of the nature and aims of metaphysics. She then goes on to develop tools that can be used to engage in metaphysical thinking about the basic varieties of things.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe book both surveys existing accounts of the natures of these kinds of things, and argues for unique original positions of its own. The arguments support a systematically anti-reductionist view of the basic ontological categories.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47990447177957,"sku":"NP9780631186946","price":140.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780631186946.jpg?v=1761787868","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/varieties-of-things-isbn-9780631186946","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}