This dissertation is a study in metaphysics. In particular, I try to critically evaluate the metaphysical and logical consequences of mereology, the formal part-whole theory. Parts and wholes are putative pieces of our ontology and yet there are puzzling difficulties in countenacing their nature and the nature of parthood relations appropriately. Thus, the work is divided into four major chapter. In §1 I discuss what I shall presupposed with respect to ontology and logic and their mutual interplay. In §2 I develop an orthodox defense of Quine's criterion of ontological commitment as the best tool to weight what exists or not within the scope of a would-be best theory of the world. In §3 mereology is analyzed in depth both formally and metaphysically with a particular focus on the mereological composition problem in the form of the Special Composition Question, of which I articulate a novel account and answer. In § 4 I try to put together my defense of Quine's criterion with my assessment of mereology. Hence, a discussion of mereological commitments is proposed and a related counting policy labeled as Mereological Minimalism is defended against rival proposals.
This dissertation is a study in metaphysics. In particular, I try to critically evaluate the metaphysical and logical consequences of mereology, the formal part-whole theory. Parts and wholes are putative pieces of our ontology and yet there are puzzling difficulties in countenacing their nature and the nature of parthood relations appropriately. Thus, the work is divided into four major chapter. In §1 I discuss what I shall presupposed with respect to ontology and logic and their mutual interplay. In §2 I develop an orthodox defense of Quine's criterion of ontological commitment as the best tool to weight what exists or not within the scope of a would-be best theory of the world. In §3 mereology is analyzed in depth both formally and metaphysically with a particular focus on the mereological composition problem in the form of the Special Composition Question, of which I articulate a novel account and answer. In § 4 I try to put together my defense of Quine's criterion with my assessment of mereology. Hence, a discussion of mereological commitments is proposed and a related counting policy labeled as Mereological Minimalism is defended against rival proposals.
Mereological Investigations: An Essay on the Relationship between Ontological and Mereological Commitment
OLIANI, ANDREA
2016/2017
Abstract
This dissertation is a study in metaphysics. In particular, I try to critically evaluate the metaphysical and logical consequences of mereology, the formal part-whole theory. Parts and wholes are putative pieces of our ontology and yet there are puzzling difficulties in countenacing their nature and the nature of parthood relations appropriately. Thus, the work is divided into four major chapter. In §1 I discuss what I shall presupposed with respect to ontology and logic and their mutual interplay. In §2 I develop an orthodox defense of Quine's criterion of ontological commitment as the best tool to weight what exists or not within the scope of a would-be best theory of the world. In §3 mereology is analyzed in depth both formally and metaphysically with a particular focus on the mereological composition problem in the form of the Special Composition Question, of which I articulate a novel account and answer. In § 4 I try to put together my defense of Quine's criterion with my assessment of mereology. Hence, a discussion of mereological commitments is proposed and a related counting policy labeled as Mereological Minimalism is defended against rival proposals.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/11243