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Metaphysics of States of Affairs

Truthmaking, Universals, and a Farewell to Bradley’s Regress

  • Book
  • © 2018

Overview

Authors:
  1. Bo R. Meinertsen

    1. Department of Philosophy, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

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  • Presents a metaphysics of Armstrongian states of affairs as the instantiations of universals by particulars linked together by a unique relation
  • Includes detailed accounts of the constituents of states of affairs
  • Provocatively argues that the particulars in states of affairs are bare particulars
  • Analyses the problem of unity for states of affairs
  • Provides a novel solution to the problem of unity

Part of the book series: Philosophical Studies Series (PSSP, volume 136)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xviii
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  2. Introduction

    • Bo R. Meinertsen
    Pages 1-17

  3. The Main Role for State of Affairs Ontology, and Its Two Rivals

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 19-19
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    2. Truthmaking

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 21-37

    3. A Partial Look at Trope Theory

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 39-53

    4. A Partial Look at Moderate Realism

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 55-66

  4. The Constituents of States of Affairs

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 67-67
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    2. Bare Particulars

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 69-82

    3. Properties

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 83-99

    4. Relations

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 101-117

    5. Concrete Universals

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 119-130

  5. The Unity of States of Affairs

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 131-131
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    2. The Problem of Unity and Relational Internalism

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 133-146

    3. The Unity of States of Affairs and Bradley’s Regress

      • Bo R. Meinertsen
      Pages 147-161

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 163-174
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Keywords

About this book

This book addresses the metaphysics of Armstrongian states of affairs, i.e. instantiations of naturalist universals by particulars. The author argues that states of affairs are the best candidate for truthmakers and, in the spirit of logical atomism, that we need no molecular truthmakers for positive truths. In the book's context, this has the pleasing result that there are no molecular states of affairs. Following this account of truthmaking, the author first shows that the particulars in (first-order) states of affairs are bare particulars. He then argues that the properties in states of affairs are simple, non-relational and concrete universals. Next, he argues that (material) relations in states of affairs are external relations. Lastly, he argues that a state of affairs is unified by a distinctive formal relation without giving rise to Bradley’s regress. Written in a relatively non-technical style, the book offers a valuable resource for philosophers working on analytic metaphysics and ontology, as well as their graduate students.

Reviews

“This book merely works out details of Armstrongian ontology and so is of narrow focus. Rather, Meinertsen throughout is engaged with questions that are and will continue to be of great interest to ontologists of all persuasions.” (Landon Hobbs, Philosophia, Vol. 51 (1), 2023)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Bo R. Meinertsen

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Metaphysics of States of Affairs

  • Book Subtitle: Truthmaking, Universals, and a Farewell to Bradley’s Regress

  • Authors: Bo R. Meinertsen

  • Series Title: Philosophical Studies Series

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3068-1

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-13-3067-4Published: 15 April 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-13-3068-1Published: 06 April 2019

  • Series ISSN: 0921-8599

  • Series E-ISSN: 2542-8349

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVIII, 174

  • Number of Illustrations: 2 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Metaphysics, Ontology, Modern Philosophy

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