TY - JOUR
T1 - The no-category ontology
AU - Bueno, Otávio
AU - Busch, Jacob
AU - Shalkowski, Scott A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author 2015.
Copyright:
Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - In this paper we argue that there are no categories of being-at least not in the robust metaphysical sense of something fundamental. Central arguments that metaphysicians provide in support of fundamental categories, such as indispensability and theoretical utility arguments, are not adequate to guarantee their existence. We illustrate this point by examining Jonathan Lowe's (2006) four-category ontology, and indicating its shortcomings. In contrast, we offer an alternative, no-category ontology, which dispenses with any fundamental categories of being, and provides a deflationary understanding of any categorization in terms of concepts. Concepts, we insist, as opposed to fundamental ontological categories, can always be revised, refined, and recast. A distinctive deflationary, no-category ontology then emerges.
AB - In this paper we argue that there are no categories of being-at least not in the robust metaphysical sense of something fundamental. Central arguments that metaphysicians provide in support of fundamental categories, such as indispensability and theoretical utility arguments, are not adequate to guarantee their existence. We illustrate this point by examining Jonathan Lowe's (2006) four-category ontology, and indicating its shortcomings. In contrast, we offer an alternative, no-category ontology, which dispenses with any fundamental categories of being, and provides a deflationary understanding of any categorization in terms of concepts. Concepts, we insist, as opposed to fundamental ontological categories, can always be revised, refined, and recast. A distinctive deflationary, no-category ontology then emerges.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84973099714&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84973099714&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/monist/onv014
DO - 10.1093/monist/onv014
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84973099714
VL - 98
SP - 233
EP - 245
JO - The Monist
JF - The Monist
SN - 0026-9662
IS - 3
ER -