Old problems for neo-positivist naturalized metaphysics
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
In her paper “Neo-positivist metaphysics” (Philosophical Studies, 160(1), 53–78, 2012), Alyssa Ney promises a naturalized metaphysics that is acceptable even by positivists’ – and specifically Carnap’s – standards. This neo-positivist metaphysics takes its outset in the findings of our best science and relies on them to inform a metaphysics that can avoid the dependence on linguistic frameworks that is inherent to Carnapian deflationism. Neo-positivist metaphysics attempts to sidestep these problems by inheriting its semantic credentials directly from science itself. This paper argues that such attempts are unsuccessful since science contains no resources with which to answer Carnap’s challenge either, and a science-based metaphysics is therefore just as vulnerable to Carnapian deflationism as traditional metaphysics. Consequently, neo-positivist metaphysics does not provide the promised metaphysics that can avoid Carnapian deflationism. While this conclusion focuses on Ney’s neo-positivist metaphysics, its scope includes any attempt to avoid Carnapian deflationism by a naturalized metaphysics that relies on strict deference to the findings of science. Substantial metaphysics – naturalized or not – is impossible unless or until Carnapian deflationism is refuted, and the resources for such a refutation cannot be found in naturalized metaphysics.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Artikelnummer | 16 |
Tidsskrift | European Journal for Philosophy of Science |
Vol/bind | 10 |
Udgave nummer | 2 |
ISSN | 1879-4912 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 2020 |
Eksternt udgivet | Ja |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:
I would like to thank Jonathan Knowles, Jan Faye, and Astrid Rasch for valuable and insightful feedback on earlier drafts of this paper. I am also grateful for the comments from the audience at the workshop in contemporary analytic philosophy, University of Copenhagen.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).
ID: 340002200