The problem of exclusion suggests that one or other of the following theses should be abandoned: all non-physical properties depend on physical properties without being reduced to physical properties and all entities that exist are physical entities. In response to the problem many physicalists have subscribed to a form of property dualism or reductive physicalism (eliminativism). Others hold that properties that are non-physical are identical to physical properties yet remain legitimate features for analysis.[1] There are some, however, who have found promising theories that draw on finding coherent ways to analyze the structural relationship between properties. Properties, on their view, are hierarchically arranged, one depending on another, being realized by…
-
-
What is Metaphysical Grounding?
“Ground… stands to philosophy as cause stands to science.” (Kit Fine) A metaphysical grounding claim explains, or accounts for, an apparent fact. If one is confronted with a fact, for example, that human beings can think in a unified way about the world, then one looks for a metaphysical ground that accounts for that fact. Consider this statement by Kevin Corcoran: “I think it is correct that it is in virtue of some natural property of brains that organisms are conscious.”[1] The “in virtue of” idea is reflected in many statements about mental properties and physical properties. Organisms are said to be conscious in virtue of some fact about brains…