more from Kit Fine

Single Idea 17275

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 5. Metaphysics beyond Science]

Full Idea

We may broadly distinguish between two main branches of metaphysics: the 'realist' or 'critical' branch is concerned with what is real (tense, values, numbers); the 'naive' or 'pre-critical' branch concerns natures of things irrespective of reality.

Gist of Idea

Realist metaphysics concerns what is real; naive metaphysics concerns natures of things

Source

Kit Fine (Guide to Ground [2012], 1.02)

Book Reference

'Metaphysical Grounding', ed/tr. Correia,F/Schnieder,B [CUP 2012], p.40


A Reaction

[compressed] The 'natures' of things are presumably the essences. He cites 3D v 4D objects, and the status of fictional characters, as examples of the second type. Fine says ground is central to realist metaphysics.

Related Idea

Idea 7920 Descriptive metaphysics aims at actual structure, revisionary metaphysics at a better structure [Strawson,P]