Combining Philosophers

Ideas for H.Putnam/P.Oppenheim, John Heil and Galen

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2 ideas

7. Existence / E. Categories / 4. Category Realism
Ontology aims to give the fundamental categories of being [Heil]
     Full Idea: The task of ontology is to spell out the fundamental categories of being.
     From: John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 02.5)
     A reaction: This is the aspiration of 'pure' metaphysics, which I don't quite believe in. There is too much convention involved, on the one hand, and physics on the other.
7. Existence / E. Categories / 5. Category Anti-Realism
Concepts don't carve up the world, which has endless overlooked or ignored divisions [Heil]
     Full Idea: Concepts do not 'carve up' the world; the world already contains endless divisions, most of which we remain oblivious to or ignore.
     From: John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 05.3)
     A reaction: Concepts could still carve up the world, without ever aspiring to do a complete job. We carve up the aspects that interest us, but the majority of the carving is in response to natural divisions, not whimsical conventions.