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).
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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.
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Published date: 2018
Keywords:
Coherentism, Explanation, Foundationalism, Grounding, Interdependence, Non-symmetry
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Local EPrints ID: 422919
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422919
PURE UUID: d7c2e2bb-6628-48a1-9613-2e35d86d4e10
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Date deposited: 08 Aug 2018 16:30
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 21:11
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