Legg, Catherine and Meyer, Aiden (2024) Modal Structure and Sellars' Metaphysical Methodology. Wilfrid Sellars’ Images and the Philosophy in Between: Nature and Norms in a Stereoscopic View.
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Sellars Modality Article (Nov 24).docx Download (1MB) |
Abstract
Wilfrid Sellars’ distinctive scientific realism has lately been gaining ground, but a crucial issue is how it can or should theorize modality. We argue that many interesting questions in this area transcend the usual ‘first-order’ concerns: “Is there an objectivist modal ontology?” and “What modal entities should we posit”? Rather, Sellars invites us to take a fresh look at the relationship between logic and metaphysics through an investigation of ‘second-order’ philosophical categories. This investigation contrasts with both the first-order 'external' ontologising of metaphysicians such as David Lewis and the 'easy' ontologising of metaphysicians such as Amie Thomasson. We argue that Sellars' approach stimulates a more conscious and fruitful examination of our role and methods as philosophers in the modal arena. Moreover, since the notion of metaphysics as a ‘second-order’ activity has recently gained attention in contemporary philosophy of science through the work of David Wallace, we explore both Sellars’ potential contribution to these discussions and the relationship between Sellars’ approach and contemporary ontic structural realist views regarding modal structure, thereby opening up fundamental questions concerning where and how the metaphysics of modality might be integrated with our current best physics.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | |||||||||
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| Additional Information: | the piece is currently undergoing peer-review and the volume (ed. by Krisztián Pete & László Kocsis) is forthcoming | |||||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
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| Depositing User: | Dr Catherine Legg | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 12 Dec 2024 13:14 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 12 Dec 2024 13:14 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 24384 | |||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Wilfrid Sellars’ Images and the Philosophy in Between: Nature and Norms in a Stereoscopic View | |||||||||
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury | |||||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
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| Date: | December 2024 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24384 |
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