Metaphysics of States of Affairs

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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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.

• Metaphysics of States of Affairs
• the Problem of Unity
• Truth-making
• Instantiation
• Concrete Universals
• Solution to Bradley’s Regress Problem
• Bare Particulars
• Properties and Relations
• Critique of Trope Theory
• Critique of Moderate Realism

“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)

• Department of Philosophy, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

  Bo R. Meinertsen

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