Current Controversies in Metaphysics

Description

This book showcases a range of views on topics at the forefront of current controversies in the field of metaphysics. The contributors include some of the most important philosophers currently writing on these issues. The questions and philosophers are: Are there any individuals at the fundamental level? / (1) Shamik Dasgupta (2) Jason Turner, Is there an objective difference between essential and accidental properties? / (1) Meghan Sullivan (2) Kris McDaniel and Steve Steward, Are there any worldly states of affairs? / (1) Daniel Nolan (2) Joseph Melia, Are there any indeterminate states of affairs? / (1) Jessica Wilson (2) Elizabeth Barnes and Ross Cameron, Do ordinary objects exist? / (1) Trenton derricks (2) Helen Beebee, Editor Elizabeth Barnes guides readers through these controversies (all published here for the first time), with a synthetic introduction and succinct abstracts of each debate. List of contributors -- Introduction -- Part I. Are there any individuals at the fundamental level? -- 1. Can we do without fundamental individuals? : yes / Shamik Dasgupta -- 2. Can we do without fundamental individuals? : no / Jason Turn -- Postscript / Shamik Dasgupta and Jason Turner -- Part II. Is there an objective difference between essential and accidental properties? -- 3. Are there essential properties? : no / Meghan Sullivan -- 4. Are there essential properties? : yes / Kris McDaniel and Steve Steward -- Part III. Are there any worldly states of affairs? -- 5. Does the world contain states of affairs? : yes / Daniel Nolan -- 6. Does the world contain states of affairs? : no / Joseph Melia -- Part IV. Are there any indeterminate states of affairs? -- 7. Are there indeterminate states of affairs? : yes / Jessica Wilson -- 8. Are there indeterminate states of affairs? : no / Elizabeth Barnes and Ross Cameron -- Part V. Do ordinary objects exist? -- 9. Do ordinary objects exist? : no / Trenton Merricks -- 10. Do ordinary objects exist? : yes / Helen Beebee -- Index.