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Full Idea
Traditional metaphysics is so tightly woven into the fabric of philosophy that it cannot be torn out without the whole tapestry unravelling.
Gist of Idea
If you tore the metaphysics out of philosophy, the whole enterprise would collapse
Source
Jonathan Schaffer (On What Grounds What [2009], 2.3)
Book Ref
'Metametaphysics', ed/tr. Chalmers/Manley/Wasserman [OUP 2009], p.373
A Reaction
I often wonder why the opponents of metaphysics still continue to do philosophy. I don't see how you address questions of ethics, or philosophy of mathematics (etc) without coming up against highly general and abstract over-questions.