Journal Article10.1007/S11098-020-01487-Y
Explaining contingent facts
TL;DR: This paper argued that no necessary facts can, on their own, explain a contingent fact, and then showed how this result makes available a response to a longstanding objection to the Principle of Sufficient Reason.
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Abstract: I argue against a principle that is widely taken to govern metaphysical explanation. This is the principle that no necessary facts can, on their own, explain a contingent fact. I then show how this result makes available a response to a longstanding objection to the Principle of Sufficient Reason—the objection that the Principle of Sufficient Reason entails that the world could not have been otherwise (i.e. that all facts are necessary).
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Citations
Essence
Satoshi Matsui
- 11 Nov 2022
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examine the contemporary literature on essence in connection with the traditional question whether essence lies within or without our world and present an argument from the premise that essentialist facts are explained by the origins of things.
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Essence
Martin Glazier
- 01 Jan 2022
TL;DR: In this article , the authors examine the contemporary literature on essence in connection with the traditional question whether essence lies within or without our world and present an argument from the premise that essentialist facts are explained by the origins of things.
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Chains of Being: Infinite Regress, Circularity, and Metaphysical ExplanationRoss P.CameronOxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. Pp. ix + 252.
Thomas Oberle
TL;DR: Thomas Oberle, Corresponding Author Thomas Oberle toberle@ualberta.ca orcid.caSearch for more papers by this author First published: 04 May 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/meta.
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References
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The Principles of Mathematics
Bertrand Russell
- 01 Jan 1903
TL;DR: The first comprehensive treatise on the logical foundations of mathematics written in English was the Principia Mathematica as mentioned in this paper, which was published in 1903 and was the basis for the work of Frege.
•Book
Writing the Book of the World
Theodore Sider
- 24 Nov 2011
TL;DR: This paper aims to explore the role that language plays in the development of a worldview and some examples show how language can play a role in shaping a person's worldview.
Metaphysical Dependence: Grounding and Reduction
Gideon Rosen
- 01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors suggest that with a minimum of regimentation these metaphysical notions may be rendered clear enough, and that much is to be said for ideological toleration of these notions.