An Introduction to Metametaphysics

Description

How do we come to know metaphysical truths? How does metaphysical inquiry work? Are metaphysical debates substantial? These are the questions which characterize metametaphysics. This book, the first systematic student introduction dedicated to metametaphysics, discusses the nature of metaphysics - its methodology, epistemology, ontology and our access to metaphysical knowledge. It provides students with a firm grounding in the basics of metametaphysics, covering a broad range of topics in metaontology such as existence, quantification, ontological commitment and ontological realism. Contemporary views are discussed along with those of Quine, Carnap and Meinong. Going beyond the metaontological debate, thorough treatment is given to novel topics in metametaphysics, including grounding, ontological dependence, fundamentality, modal epistemology, intuitions, thought experiments and the relationship between metaphysics and science. The book will be an essential resource for those studying advanced metaphysics, philosophical methodology, metametaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of science.

Tuomas E. Tahko is a University Lecturer in Theoretical Philosophy and a Finnish Academy Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki. He is the editor of Contemporary Aristotelian Metaphysics (Cambridge, 2012) and author of numerous articles in journals, including Mind, The Philosophical Quarterly, Erkenntnis and Thought.

'Tahko strikes exactly the right balance between introducing substantive metaphysical topics and exploring various metametaphysical considerations of those topics. An Introduction to Metametaphysics would make a splendid textbook for anyone offering an upper level course in metaphysics.' John Heil, Washington University, St Louis 'This is a top-notch study of the metaphysical and epistemic foundations of metaphysics. Anyone interested in contemporary metaphysics and its methodology should read this book.' L. A. Paul, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 'Metametaphysics is a hot and important topic. Tahko's book gives us not only an engaging introduction to the subject, but also an overview that will stimulate and reward the attention of all metaphysicians.' Alexander Bird, University of Bristol 'The book has many virtues: it engages with both contemporary philosophers and topics and their recent predecessors, and gives accurate and succinct descriptions of most of the views under discussion.' Michaela Markham McSweeney, Australasian Journal of Philosophy