Meta-metaphysics

Metaphysical theories are beautiful, and this volume demonstrates the role of the aesthetic properties of metaphysics in theory evaluation and theory choice. The author explores traditional meta-theoretical criteria and, finding the route from experience to metaphysics treacherous, considers metaphysical theories' explanatory power deriving from their primitives. The main example used in exploring equally good theories is the tropes VS. universals VS. nominalism debate. The first part of this book contains examples of metaphysical equivalence, partial metaphysical equivalence and metaphysical non-equivalence and through this a metaontological view of metaphysical debates develops: they might be either substantive or verbal debates. The author then goes on to claim that almost all explanatory power of metaphysical theories comes from their primitives, and therefore the identification of the best primitives in metaphysical theories is of fundamental importance. The second part of this book explores how to make a choice between competing metaphysical theories. Some traditional meta-theoretical criteria are examined, such as simplicity, compatibility with physics, compatibility with intuitions, explanatory power, and internal consistency. The author shows that following one or more of these criteria does not indicate which theory is preferable to the others. Metaphysical theories posses aesthetic properties such as "being elegant" or "being beautiful" that supervene partly on the non-aesthetic criteria discussed above, and the attribution of these aesthetic properties plays a crucial role in selecting one theory over the others. This book contains original research in the contemporary field of analytic metaphysics and meta-metaphysics.