Relations

An accessible, historically sensitive, metaphysically engaged discussion of relations of use to specialists and non-specialists alike.

John Heil (Author)

9781108940610, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 November 2021

75 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 0.4 cm, 0.119 kg

Historically, philosophical discussions of relations have featured chiefly as afterthoughts, loose ends to be addressed only after coming to terms with more important and pressing metaphysical issues. F. H. Bradley stands out as an exception. Understanding Bradley's views on relations and their significance today requires an appreciation of the alternatives, which in turn requires an understanding of how relations have traditionally been classified and how philosophers have struggled to capture their nature and their ontological standing. Positions on these topics range from the rejection of relations altogether, to their being awarded the status as grounds for everything else, to various intermediary positions along this spectrum. Love them, hate them, or merely tolerate them, no philosopher engaged in ontologically serious metaphysics can afford to ignore relations.

1. Relations: Gotta Love 'Em
2. Properties and Relations
3. Internal and External Relations
4. Metaphysical Preliminaries
5. Truthmaking
6. Bradley's Regress
7. Relations and Nonrelational Truthmakers
8. Stocktake
9. Bradley Redux
10. Relational Ontology
11. Relations: Can't Live With 'Em, Can't Live Without 'Em.

Subject Areas: Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge [HPK], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Philosophy [HP]