The Metaphysics Within Physics
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.
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The Metaphysics Within Physics
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.
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The Metaphysics Within Physics

The Metaphysics Within Physics

by Tim Maudlin
The Metaphysics Within Physics

The Metaphysics Within Physics

by Tim Maudlin

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Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780191527326
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication date: 04/19/2007
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 472 KB

About the Author

Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 A Modest Proposal Concerning Laws, Counterfacutals, and Explanations
Chapter 2 Why Be Humean
Chapter 3 Suggestions Form Physics For Deep Metaphysics
Chapter 4 On the Passing of Time
Chapter 5 Causation, Counterfactuals, and the Third Factor
Chapter 6 The Whole Ball of Wax

Epilogue: A Remark on the Method of Metaphysics
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