Metaphysics

The topic of this reading group is "Grounding". 

By focussing on a series of key readings in the recent debate, we aim at investigating and understanding:

(i) general issues that concern the nature of the notion of grounding, as well as the motivations behind it; 

(ii) the theoretical jobs it is called on to perform and its ability to perform them (or lack thereof); 

(iii) the formal principles that govern it. The relation that grounding bears to other notions that arguably play a role in metaphysics (e.g. supervenience or reduction), and its application to specific philosophical debates may also form part of the RG's topics.

We will meet every Tuesday from 3 to 5 PM, in the Aula Seminario de Lógica, starting on the 13th of October.

Please contact either of the convenors (Samuele Chilovi: samuele.chilovi@gmail.com or Delia Belleri: deliabelleri@gmail.com) if you wish to be included in the reading group's mailing list

List of Planned Readings (might be subject to changes):

A. General features and philosophical significance of grounding

1. On what grounds what (Schaffer)

2. Guide to Ground (Fine)

3. Metaphysical dependence: grounding and reduction (Rosen)

4. A clarification and defense of the notion of grounding (Audi)

5. Grounding explanations (deRosset)

 

B. Formal principles

6. Is Metaphysical Dependence irreflexive? (Jenkins)

7. Grounding, Transitivity, and Contrastivity (Schaffer)

8. Grounding and necessity (Leuenberger)

 

C. Challenges to the notion of grounding

9. No work for a theory of grounding (Wilson)

10. Scepticism about grounding (Daly)