no one has yet elaborated and defended with so much subtlety, rigour, and depth the exciting new metaphysics of nature that replaces both versions of the traditional categoricalist picture of nature...Reading Bird is highly rewarding: he sheds new light on many problems by analysing them in a new way...Bird's book holds promise to become the authoritative statement of the new dispositionalist metaphysics.

Max Kistler, Mind

the book provides a wealth of interesting details, helpful distinctions, and valuable clarifications, as well as considered, scientifically informed and in-depth argument. Anyone interested in the metaphysics of dispositions, laws of nature and causation will find the book highly illuminating.

Barbara Vetter, Logical Analysis and History of Philosophy

Bird's book is well argued and provocative ... It is 'must reading' for all philosophers concerned with laws, dispositions, an fundamental properties.

Marc Lange, Philosophical Review

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an excellent contribution to the burgeoning literature ... whether or not anyone should be convinced of these details of nature's metaphysics, this book certainly provides a wonderfully lucid understanding of what its properties and laws might be like if dispositional essentialism were true.

Anjan Chakravartty, Metascience

The book is notable for its ambitious scope, its clarity, and its careful argumentation. It is a fine addition to the metaphysical literature about properties and laws of nature. It is already beginning to assume the status of a canonical text on the subject ... I recommend that all who want to engage with dispositional essentialism treat this as one of its indispensable texts.

Peter Menzies, Analysis

Bird's exploration and defence of Dispositionalism is impressive. It is detailed, meticulously constructed and insightful, and should do a great deal to persuade philosophers of the position's plausibility. The book is a demanding but very illuminating read.

Simon Bostock, Philosophy

Nature's Metaphysics argues that a satisfactory philosophy of science requires a metaphysics that is based on the understanding that natural properties are essentially dispositional. Alexander Bird develops a dispositional essentialist account of the laws of nature, defending the claim that laws are metaphysically necessary. Professional philosophers and advanced students working in metaphysics and the philosophy of science will find this book both provocative and stimulating.
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Nature's Metaphysics argues that a satisfactory philosophy of science requires a metaphysics that is based on the understanding that natural properties are essentially dispositional. Alexander Bird develops a dispositional essentialist account of the laws of nature, defending the claim that laws are metaphysically necessary.
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1. Introduction - laws and properties ; 2. Dispositions ; 3. Dispositional essentialism and the laws of nature ; 4. Categoricalism ; 5. Dispositional essentialism, modality, and intentionality ; 6. The regress objection ; 7. Structural properties ; 8. The illusion of nomic contingency ; 9. Are there any laws, and if so what are they? ; 10. Concluding remarks ; References
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`Review from previous edition Alexander Bird has done an excellent job in injecting argumentative rigour into a debate that has come to seem to some as having reached stalemate.... The sheer weight and quality of argument in this book show that this is a debate that has a long way to run yet.' Helen Beebee, Times Literary Supplement `This is a rewarding book. In terms of area, it has one foot firmly planted in metaphysics and the other just as firmly set in the philosophy of science. Nature's Metaphysics is distinctive for its thorough and detailed defense of fundamental, natural properties as essentially dispositional and for its description of how these dispositional properties are thus suited to sustain the laws of nature as (metaphysically) necessary truths.' John W. Carroll, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
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Bird is a leading figure in the field Original research at the cross-roads of metaphysics and the philosophy of science Challenges deep-seated metaphysical intuitions
Alexander Bird is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol.
Bird is a leading figure in the field Original research at the cross-roads of metaphysics and the philosophy of science Challenges deep-seated metaphysical intuitions

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780199573110
Publisert
2009
Utgiver
Oxford University Press; Oxford University Press
Vekt
401 gr
Høyde
233 mm
Bredde
155 mm
Dybde
14 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
246

Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

Alexander Bird is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol.