Kathryn Dean
Ashgate
Hardback
310
1997
In order to vindicate our causal and inductive beliefs, the author requires the rejection of even more primary metaphysical and logical principles: existence in metaphysics and membership in class - logic. The former is shown to be an instance of the latter, and this lies behind many of the paradoxes with which logic and metaphysics are plagued: The Liar, the classical paradox of induction, to name only two. The reality of things has to be reconceived as dependent on their nature, not existence. Striking, intriguing, a rare exercise in philosophical imagination.
Ashgate
Hardback
310
1997
In order to vindicate our causal and inductive beliefs, the author requires the rejection of even more primary metaphysical and logical principles: existence in metaphysics and membership in class - logic. The former is shown to be an instance of the latter, and this lies behind many of the paradoxes with which logic and metaphysics are plagued: The Liar, the classical paradox of induction, to name only two. The reality of things has to be reconceived as dependent on their nature, not existence. Striking, intriguing, a rare exercise in philosophical imagination.