
In Chains of Being, Ross P. Cameron argues for both Metaphysical Infinitism, the view that there can be infinitely descending chains of ontological dependence or grounding, with no bottom level of fundamental things or facts, and Metaphysical Holism, the view that there can be circles of ontological dependence or grounding. Cameron argues against the widespread orthodoxy of Metaphysical Foundationalism: that everything in reality is ultimately accounted for by a base class of fundamental phenomena. In doing so, he makes the case against another widespread orthodoxy: that relations like grounding and ontological dependence are explanatory relations. Cameron provides an alternative account of metaphysical explanation that does not tie explanation to determination relations like grounding and ontological dependence, and he shows how explanation works in infinitist and holistic metaphysics. Embracing the possibility of infinite regress and circularity can be theoretically fruitful, as is shown by applying it to a number of cases across a wide range of philosophical areas, including: non-well-founded set theory, mathematical structuralism, the metaphysics of persons, the metaphysics of gender and sexuality, the semantic paradoxes, and others. In the course of exploring these applications, Cameron defends distinctive views concerning when an infinite regress is vicious, the nature of truth, non-classical logic and dialetheism, social construction, and more.
Can reality be explained without a fundamental base, or does the structure of existence allow for infinite regresses and circular dependencies? Ross P. Cameron, a professor of philosophy, challenges the prevailing doctrine of Metaphysical Foundationalism by proposing that ontological dependence can exist in infinite chains or circular loops. He argues that grounding relations are not inherently explanatory and offers a new framework for metaphysical explanation that accommodates non-well-founded structures.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to contemporary analytic metaphysics that systematically dismantles the assumption of foundationalism. Readers frequently note the high level of academic density and the rigorous logical argumentation required to follow the author's complex proposals.
Page Count:
264
Publication Date:
2022-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0192596195
ISBN-13:
9780192596192
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