Metaphysics as the Science of the Possible

Miller, J.T.M.

Metaphysics as the Science of the Possible

Miller, J.T.M.

Authors

Dr James Miller james.miller@durham.ac.uk
Assistant Professor

Contributors

Ricki Bliss
Editor

Dr James Miller james.miller@durham.ac.uk
Editor

Abstract

This chapter considers the view that a central concern of metaphysics is what is possible. That is, the idea is that, unlike science, metaphysics studies not only what is actual, but the ways that reality could be. This view, if right, provides metaphysics with a distinct subject matter from that of science, and, depending on what modal epistemology we adopt, a distinct methodology too. In this chapter, I first provide an overview of the view, before highlighting some of the most prominent objections, and possible routes of response.

Citation

Miller, J. (2020). Metaphysics as the Science of the Possible. In R. Bliss, & J. Miller (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Metametaphysics (480-491). Routledge

Online Publication Date	Jul 14, 2020
Publication Date	2020-07
Deposit Date	Jul 29, 2020
Publicly Available Date	Jan 14, 2022
Publisher	Routledge
Pages	480-491
Edition	1st ed.
Book Title	The Routledge Handbook of Metametaphysics.
Chapter Number	38
Publisher URL	https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315112596-38/

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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in The Routledge Handbook of Metametaphysics on 14 July 2020, available online: http://www.routledge.com/9781138082250