The Metaphysics Within Physics

by Maudlin, Tim

• ISBN13: 9780199218219
• ISBN10: 0199218218
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-06-14
• Publisher: Clarendon Press

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
A Modest Proposal Concerning Laws, Counterfactuals, and Explanations	p. 5
Why Be Humean?	p. 50
Suggestions from Physics for Deep Metaphysics	p. 78
On the Passing of Time	p. 104
Causation, Counterfactuals, and the Third Factor	p. 143
The Whole Ball of Wax	p. 170
Epilogue: A Remark on the Method of Metaphysics	p. 184
References	p. 192
Index	p. 195
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