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Quantifier Variance, Ontological Pluralism and Ideal Languages.
- Source :
-
Philosophical Quarterly . Apr2019, Vol. 69 Issue 275, p277-293. 17p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Kris McDaniel has recently defended a criterion for being an ontological pluralist that classifies the quantifier variantist as one. In this paper, I argue that this is a mistake. There is an important difference between the two views, which is sometimes obscured by a common view in the metaphysics of fundamentality. According to the simple analysis, a language is ideal—it allows for a maximally metaphysically perspicuous description of reality—just in case all its primitives are perfectly natural. I argue that this analysis struggles to distinguish quantifier variance from ontological pluralism, and then I discuss various accounts that can do better. I then propose a criterion for being an ontological pluralist that does not misclassify the quantifier variantist. Finally, I discuss some additional advantages of my proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *PLURALISM
*NATURALNESS (Linguistics)
*ANALYSIS of variance
*PHILOSOPHY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00318094
- Volume :
- 69
- Issue :
- 275
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Philosophical Quarterly
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 135497476
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqy048