Metaphysics of Grounding (MoG)

Description: The notion of grounding is said to capture a primitive relation of metaphysical determination. The notion is said to be pervasive both within and outside the philosophy room underlying a kind of explanation that is non-causal and distinctively metaphysical. Grounding is also linked to the notion of fundamentality, since it is taken to be the relation that governs the metaphysical structure of reality. On top of that, grounding also bears a connection with other key concepts in metaphysics, such as essence, necessity, lawhood, ontological dependence, or hyperintensionality, to name but a few. With such an ambitious metaphysical project, it is not surprising that proponents and opponents have emerged. The purpose of this reading group is to approach these and other issues by analysing the main points of debate in the grounding literature.

Convenors: Marta Campdelacreu, Sven Rosenkranz, and Markel Kortabarria

Frequency: Every second Tuesday from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

Format: Hybrid.

Sessions

• 3 October 2023 - Raven, M. (2017). New work for a theory of ground. Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 60 (6):625-655.
• 17 October 2023 - Fine, K. (2012). Guide to ground. In Fabrice Correia & Benjamin Schnieder (eds.), Metaphysical Grounding. Cambridge University Press. pp. 37--80.
• 31 October 2023 - Maurin, A. S. (2019). Grounding and metaphysical explanation: it’s complicated. Philosophical Studies 176 (6):1573-1594.
• 14 November 2023 - Skiles, A. & Trogdon, K. (2021). Should explanation be a guide to ground? Philosophical Studies 178 (12):4083-4098.
• 21 November 2023 - Rydéhn, H. (2021). Grounding and ontological dependence. Synthese 198 (Suppl 6):1231-1256.
• 12 December 2023 - Wilson, A. (2018). Metaphysical Causation. Noûs 52 (4):723-751.
• 23 January 2024 - Skiles, A. (2015). Against Grounding Necessitarianism. Erkenntnis 80(4): 717-751.
• 20 February 2024 - Pautz, A. (forthcoming). How to Achieve the Physicalist Dream Theory: Identity or Grounding? In G. Rabin (ed.), Grounding and Consciousness. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• 5 March 2024 - Siscoe, R. (2024). Grounding and the Epistemic Regress Problem. Erkenntnis 89(3): 875-896.
• 19 March 2024 - Rydehn, H. (2022). Metaphysically Opaque Grounding. Canadian Journal of Philosophy 52 (7):729-745.
• 2 April 2024 - Leuenberger, S. (2020). Emergence. In: Raven, M. J. (ed.) The Routledge 
  Handbook of Metaphysical Grounding. Oxford: Oxfors University Press.
• 16 April 2024 - Correia, F. & Skiles, A. (2019). Grounding, Essence and Identity. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 98 (3):642-670.
• 30 April 2024 - Correia, F. & Skiles, A. (2019). Grounding, Essence and Identity. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 98 (3):642-670.
• 14 April 2024 - Duncan, M. et al. (2021). Ditching Dependence and Determination: Or, How to Wear the Crazy Trousers. Synthese 198 (1):395-418.

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