Realism, truthmakers, and language : a study in meta-ontology and the relationship between language and metaphysics
Metaphysics has had a long history of debate over its viability, and substantivity. This thesis explores issues connected to the realism question within the domain of metaphysics, ultimately aiming to defend a realist, substantive metaphysics by responding to so-called deflationary approaches, which have become prominent, and well supported within the recent metametaphysical and metaontological literature. To this end, I begin by examining the changing nature of the realism question. I argue that characterising realism and anti-realism through theories of truth unduly places epistemology prior to ontology, and is unwarranted in assuming a non-neutrality between theories of truth and positions within the realism debate. I therefore propose a characterisation of realism and anti-realism understood through truthmaking. This produces a suitable working characterisation of realism that will be used within the remainder of this project. In the second section, I trace the historical influences upon current deflationary approaches to metaphysics, most prominently those of Carnap, and Putnam. I argue that Quineâs supposed attack on Carnapâs anti-metaphysical thought fails, and show how current deflationary thought,
Miller, James Timothy Matthew
Realism, truthmakers, and language : a study in meta-ontology and the relationship between language and metaphysics. Metaphysics has had a long history of debate over its viability, and substantivity. This thesis explores issues connected to the realism question within the domain of metaphysics, ultimately aiming to defend a realist, substantive metaphysics by responding to so-called deflationary approaches, which have become prominent, and well supported within the recent metametaphysical and metaontological literature. To this end, I begin by examining the changing nature of the realism question. I argue that characterising realism and anti-realism through theories of truth unduly places epistemology prior to ontology, and is unwarranted in assuming a non-neutrality between theories of truth and positions within the realism debate. I therefore propose a characterisation of realism and anti-realism understood through truthmaking. This produces a suitable working characterisation of realism that will be used within the remainder of this project. In the second section, I trace the historical influences upon current deflationary approaches to metaphysics, most prominently those of Carnap, and Putnam. I argue that Quineâs supposed attack on Carnapâs anti-metaphysical thought fails, and show how current deflationary thought,
realism language study meta ontology relationship language metaphysics metaphysics long_history debate viability explores issue connect realism question within domain metaphysics ultimately aim_defend realist substantive metaphysics respond so_called deflationary approach become_prominent well support within recent literature end_begin examine change_nature realism question argue characterise realism_anti realism theory_truth unduly place epistemology prior ontology unwarranted assume non neutrality theory_truth position_within realism debate therefore propose characterisation realism_anti realism understood produce suitable work characterisation realism use within remainder project second_section trace_historical influence_upon current deflationary approach metaphysics prominently carnap putnam argue quine suppose attack carnap anti metaphysical thought fails show current deflationary thought