Contemporary Readings in the Foundations of Metaphysics

aeo Provides a comprehensive source to key metaphysics debates. aeo Includes classic articles by internationally acclaimed philosophers. aeo Incorporates seven new state--of--the art papers. aeo Begins with an overview essay hightlighting important debates. The basic tools and concepts of metaphysics are employed in virtually every branch of philosophy, necessitating a basic understanding of metaphysics to completely understand any philosophical work. This volume is a comprehensive survey of contemporary thought on a wide range of issues and provides students with the basic background to current debates in metaphysics and ontology. An introductory essay by the editors offers an overview of the volume and introduces students to the major debates that are contained within the main body of the text. The collection contains classic contemporary papers on topics such as Ontological Commitment and Methodology, Possible Worlds and Possibilia, Properties and Universals, Substances, Events, Tropes and Mathematical Objects. It also includes seven newly-commissioned state-of-the-art articles by Van Inwagen, Lycan, Bealer, Loux, Lombard, Macdonald and Field. The volume is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in metaphysics and contemporary philosophy. This volume is a comprehensive survey of contemporary thought on a wide range of issues and provides students with the basic background to current debates in metaphysics.