真之形而上学

“真”是语言哲学的核心概念,由于该词本身的特性,它的语义特征在日常使用中并不明显。围绕“真”有许多讨论,形成不同理论。这样的讨论和理论既有语言学层面的问题,也有形而上学层面的问题。戴维特详细分析论述了这两个层面的差异,并试图说明二者的优劣以及孰为先孰为后。无论他的观点是不是正确,不管他的论证是不是充分,他的文章至少是一篇出色的综述,从中可以使我们大致领略当前关于真之形而上学是一种什么样的讨论。     

Representing causation

The dynamics model, which is based on L. Talmy's (1988) theory of force dynamics, characterizes causation as a pattern of forces and a position vector. In contrast to counterfactual and probabilistic models, the dynamics model naturally distinguishes between different cause-related concepts and explains the induction of causal relationships from single observations. Support for the model is provided in experiments in which participants categorized 3-D animations of realistically rendered objects with trajectories that were wholly determined by the force vectors entered into a physics simulator. Experiments 1-3 showed that causal judgments are based on several forces, not just one. Experiment 4 demonstrated that people compute the resultant of forces using a qualitative decision rule. Experiments 5 and 6 showed that a dynamics approach extends to the representation of social causation. Implications for the relationship between causation and time are discussed.     

General causation

This paper outlines a general theory of efficient causation, a theory that deals in a unified way with traditional or deterministic, indeterministic, probabilistic, and other causal concepts. Theorists like Lewis, Salmon, and Suppes have attempted to broaden our causal perspective by reductively analysing causal notions in other terms. By contrast, the present theory rests in the first place on a non-reductive analysis of traditional causal concepts — into formal or structural components, on the one hand, and a physical or metaphysical component, on the other. The analyzans is then generalised. The theory also affords a more general propensity notion than is standard, one that helps solve major problems facing propensity interpretations of probability.     

Understanding causation

Synthese - In Part I of ‘Causality and Determination” (CD), Anscombe writes that (1) we understand causality through understanding specific causal expressions, (2) efficient causation...     

Real Metaphysics

Book Information Real Metaphysics. Real Metaphysics Hallvard Lillehammer and Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra, eds., London : Routledge, 2003, VIII + 248, £65 (cloth), £19.99 (paper) Edited by Hallvard Lillehammer; and Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra. Routledge. London. Pp. VIII + 248. £65 (cloth:), £19.99 (paper:),     

形而上学中的虚构主义

虚构主义是在过去20年间涌现出来的一种很有竞争力的反实在论理论。这种理论认为,某些领域(如数学、伦理)中的理论言谈所涉及的对象在本体论上是不存在的,因此这些理论言谈实际上都不是真的;然而我们可以把它们作为像虚构作品中的言谈一样继续使用下去。本文介绍和讨论了虚构主义的历史和理念,特别强调了这种理论在语言哲学、模态理论、数学哲学、道德哲学、真理理论等领域中的应用和发展。     

勒维纳斯的形而上学概念

在西方哲学史上,作为形而上学的核心部门,存在论甚至可以作为形而上学的同义词来使用。勒维纳斯以其思想的强力把两者分离开来,成为当代西方思想的一个异乎寻常事件。但这一异乎寻常事件之最异乎寻常者在于,西方思想很长时间以来都没有意识到其异乎寻常,而只在德里达那里获得了反响(即使德里达不是第一个对勒维纳斯思想进行研究的,但其《暴力与形而上学》无疑是第一篇真正有分量的研究著作)。本文的目的主要在于通过勒维纳斯对以海德格尔为靶子的存在论哲学的批判来澄清其赋予形而上学一词的特殊意义。一存在论,亚里士多德把它规定为对作为…     

Disproportional mental causation

In this paper I do three things. First, I argue that Stephen Yablo’s influential account of mental causation is susceptible to counterexamples involving what I call disproportional mental causation. Second, I argue that similar counterexamples can be generated for any alternative account of mental causation that is like Yablo’s in that it takes mental states and their physical realizers to causally compete. Third, I show that there are alternative nonreductive approaches to mental causation which reject the idea of causal competition, and which thus are able to allow for disproportional mental causation. This, I argue, is a significant advantage for such noncompetitive accounts.