Metaphysical interdependence, epistemic coherentism, and holistic explanation
Metaphysical interdependence, epistemic coherentism, and holistic explanation
This paper argues for an alternative to orthodox foundationalist accounts of metaphysical structure as characterized by grounding relations. There are good reasons to take grounding to be a non-symmetric (rather than an asymmetric) relation, and to take facts to be related in complex networks of ground. These networks are closely analogous to the networks of justified beliefs characteristic of coherentism about justification. This position is called metaphysical interdependence. The chapter argues that grounding is an explanatory relation (rather than merely a relation which backs explanations), and that there are good reasons to resist the contention that explanation is asymmetric, including cases seemingly best described as cases of holistic metaphysical explanation. Metaphysical interdependence is a promising account of the metaphysical structure of reality.
Coherentism, Explanation, Foundationalism, Grounding, Interdependence, Non-symmetry
107-125
Thompson, Naomi
b382645c-7f77-428b-871a-8552466ec04d
2018
Thompson, Naomi
b382645c-7f77-428b-871a-8552466ec04d
Thompson, Naomi
(2018)
Metaphysical interdependence, epistemic coherentism, and holistic explanation.
In,
Reality and its Structure: Essays in Fundamentality.
Oxford.
Oxford University Press, .
(doi:10.1093/oso/9780198755630.003.0006).
Record type:
Book Section
Abstract
This paper argues for an alternative to orthodox foundationalist accounts of metaphysical structure as characterized by grounding relations. There are good reasons to take grounding to be a non-symmetric (rather than an asymmetric) relation, and to take facts to be related in complex networks of ground. These networks are closely analogous to the networks of justified beliefs characteristic of coherentism about justification. This position is called metaphysical interdependence. The chapter argues that grounding is an explanatory relation (rather than merely a relation which backs explanations), and that there are good reasons to resist the contention that explanation is asymmetric, including cases seemingly best described as cases of holistic metaphysical explanation. Metaphysical interdependence is a promising account of the metaphysical structure of reality.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 2018
Keywords:
Coherentism, Explanation, Foundationalism, Grounding, Interdependence, Non-symmetry
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 422919
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422919
PURE UUID: d7c2e2bb-6628-48a1-9613-2e35d86d4e10
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 08 Aug 2018 16:30
Last modified: 13 Sep 2024 01:49
Export record
Altmetrics
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
