What fundamental account of the world is implicit in physical theory? Physics straightforwardly postulates quarks and electrons, but what of the more intangible elements, such as laws of nature, universals, causation and the direction of time? Do they have a place in the physical structure of the world? Tim Maudlin argues that the ontology derived from physics takes a form quite different from those most commonly defended by philosophers. Physics postulates irreducible fundamental laws, eschews universals, does not require a fundamental notion of causation, and makes room for the passage of time. In a series of linked essays The Metaphysics Within Physics outlines an approach to metaphysics opposed to the Humean reductionism that motivates much analytical metaphysics.
Author(s): Tim Maudlin
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 192
0199218218......Page 1
Contents......Page 10
Introduction......Page 12
1. A Modest Proposal Concerning Laws, Counterfactuals, and Explanations......Page 16
2. Why Be Humean?......Page 61
3. Suggestions from Physics for Deep Metaphysics......Page 89
4. On the Passing of Time......Page 115
5. Causation, Counterfactuals, and the Third Factor......Page 154
6. The Whole Ball of Wax......Page 181
Epilogue: A Remark on the Method of Metaphysics......Page 195
References......Page 203
G......Page 206
P......Page 207
W......Page 208
