Contemp Rdgs Fndns Metaphysics - by Stephen Laurence & Cynthia MacDonald (Paperback)

About the Book

This comprehensive survey provides readers with the basic background on contemporary thought and current debates in metaphysics. The collection contains classic contemporary papers on topics such as ontological commitment and methodology, possible worlds and possibilia, properties and universals, substances, and more.

Book Synopsis

This volume is a comprehensive survey of contemporary thought on a wide range of issues and provides students with the basic background to current debates in metaphysics.

From the Back Cover

The basic tools and concepts of metaphysics are employed in virtually every branch of philosophy, necessitating a basic understanding of metaphysics to completely understand any philosophical work. This volume is a comprehensive survey of contemporary thought on a wide range of issues and provides students with the basic background to current debates in metaphysics and ontology.

An introductory essay by the editors offers an overview of the volume and introduces students to the major debates that are contained within the main body of the text. The collection contains classic contemporary papers on topics such as Ontological Commitment and Methodology, Possible Worlds and Possibilia, Properties and Universals, Substances, Events, Tropes and Mathematical Objects. It also includes seven newly-commissioned state-of-the-art articles by Van Inwagen, Lycan, Bealer, Loux, Lombard, Macdonald and Field.

The volume is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in metaphysics and contemporary philosophy.

Review Quotes

"This is a superb collection of seminal papers on fundamental matters in metaphysics: ontological commitment, possibilia, universals, substance, events, tropes, and mathematical objects. The pedagogical value of the volume is enhanced by state-of-the-art essays by leading philosophers in the field." Brian McLaughlin, Rutgers University

About the Author

Stephen Laurence is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, England and is co-editor with Eric Margolis of Concepts: Core Readings (1998).

Cynthia Macdonald is Professor at the University of Canterbury at Christchurch, New Zealand. She is co-author with Graham Macdonald of Philosophy of Psychology (Blackwell Publishers, 1995) and Connectionism (Blackwell Publishers, 1995).