Intro -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1. What Is Metaphysics? -- Aristotle and the Origins of Metaphysics -- Aristotle on Being -- The Current Subject of Metaphysics -- Chapter 2. Existence -- Existence and Definite Descriptions -- Logical Fictions and Logical Constructions -- Russell on Numbers and Classes -- Ontological Reductionism -- Russell on Fundamental Existence -- Russell on Existential Quantification -- A New Problem about Existence -- Existence and the World -- Chapter 3. Universals and Particulars -- Traditional Arguments for Universals -- Problems with the Theory of Universals -- Problems about Particulars -- The Failure of a Theory -- Attributes, Facts, and Truth -- Conceptualism -- Concluding Remarks -- Chapter 4. Linguistic Arguments for Abstracta -- Abstract Singular Terms -- Criteria of Ontological Commitment -- Propositions and Adverbial Clauses -- Propositions and Logical Subjects -- Statements and Beliefs -- Possibilities and Fictional Objects -- Other Possibilities -- Concluding Remarks on Abstracta -- Chapter 5. Changing Things -- Continuants and Change -- The Problem of the Ship of Theseus -- Problems of Personal Identity -- Memory, Personality, and Self-Identity -- Descartes on the Self -- Cerebral Commisurotomy and Survival after Death -- Chapter 6. Worlds, Objects, and Structure -- Continuants and Events -- Events and Time -- Time without Events -- Space and Causation -- Causal Laws -- More on Things and Events -- Metaphysical Realism and Descriptive Metaphysics -- Chapter 7. Meaning, Truth, and Metaphysics -- Adverbs and Ontology -- Theories of Truth -- The Semantic Conception of Truth -- Truth and Meaning -- Davidson on Interpretation -- The Power of Charity -- Meaning and Indeterminacy -- Interpretation and Speaker's Meaning -- Interpretation and Temporal Connectives -- Truth and Metaphysics.

Chapter 8. Appearance and Reality -- The Immediate Objects of Perception -- Berkeley's Criticism of Locke -- Existence "In the Mind -- Skepticism and Phenomenalism -- Kant's Metaphysics of Experience -- Objections to Classical Empiricism -- A Revision of Classical Empiricism -- The Mental and the Physical -- Chapter 9. Metaphysical Freedom -- Freedom and Determinism -- Freedom and Unmoved Moving -- Explanations of Purposive Behavior -- The Libertarian Position -- The Reconciler Position -- Freedom and Morality -- Two Conceptions of Freedom -- The Freedom of Spontaneity -- NOTES -- REFERENCES -- INDEX -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z.

A comprehensive introductory study of the key concepts and problems in traditional and contemporary metaphysics. Aune presents and defends a point of view that is naturalistic, nominalistic and pragmatic-an approach that has the overall advantage of providing a coherent, structured view of the topics he discusses.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.