
Systematic Metaphysics
Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Oxford University Press
Published on 19. February 2026
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-19-898209-8 (ISBN)
Description
Contemporary metaphysics is most commonly approached in a piecemeal fashion, not systematically. Even those philosophers who end up with a metaphysical system tend to tackle issues one at a time, and do not presume that doing metaphysics systematically is a pre-condition for doing metaphysics. But it wasn't always that way. At various points throughout history, and in particular in the nineteenth century, philosophers argued that philosophy in general, and metaphysics in particular, must be done systematically and holistically if it is to be done at all.
Systematic Metaphysics seeks to put systematicity back on the philosophical agenda. Featuring contributions from leading philosophers and historians of philosophy, the chapters tackle a host of meta-philosophical issues involving the notion of systematicity: What would it mean for metaphysics (or philosophy) to be systematic? Why would metaphysics have to be systematic? What are the epistemological implications of metaphysics being, or having to be, systematic? What explains the deep interconnectedness of philosophy's branches and sub-branches? Might reflection on these questions compel us to accept that philosophy can't be pursued at all? Because these issues have figured heavily in the history of philosophy, this volume includes both investigations of the place of, and reflection on, systematicity in the work of key historical figures, as well as contemporary explorations of the volume's themes.
Systematic Metaphysics seeks to put systematicity back on the philosophical agenda. Featuring contributions from leading philosophers and historians of philosophy, the chapters tackle a host of meta-philosophical issues involving the notion of systematicity: What would it mean for metaphysics (or philosophy) to be systematic? Why would metaphysics have to be systematic? What are the epistemological implications of metaphysics being, or having to be, systematic? What explains the deep interconnectedness of philosophy's branches and sub-branches? Might reflection on these questions compel us to accept that philosophy can't be pursued at all? Because these issues have figured heavily in the history of philosophy, this volume includes both investigations of the place of, and reflection on, systematicity in the work of key historical figures, as well as contemporary explorations of the volume's themes.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
640 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-898209-8 (9780198982098)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Aaron Segal is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He received a PhD in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, and was previously Professor at Yeshiva University. He has published widely in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and Jewish philosophy.
Nicholas F. Stang is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He primarily works on metaphysics in Kant, German idealism, and contemporary analytic philosophy.
Nicholas F. Stang is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He primarily works on metaphysics in Kant, German idealism, and contemporary analytic philosophy.
Volume editor
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
University of Toronto
Content
1: Aaron Segal and Nicholas F. Stang: General Introduction Part I. Historical Essays 2: Anna Marmodoro: Mereological Causation 3: Karolina Huebner: How to Be a Mereological Panpsychist 4: Nicholas F. Stang: Why Should Metaphysics Be Systematic?: Contemporary Answers and Kant's 5: Samuel Lebens: A Russellian Philosophy of Philosophy: Systematicity, Entitlement, and the End of Days Part II. Thematic Essays 6: Fraser MacBride and Frederique Janssen-Lauret: Metaphysical Determination, Analysis, and Systematicity 7: Timothy Williamson: Hyperintensionalist Metaphysics as a Case Study in Overfitting 8: Barbara Vetter: What Do We Talk about When We Talk about Metaphysical Modality? A Case Study in Conceptual Systematicity 9: Peter van Inwagen: Epistemological Reflections on the Idea of a Metaphysical System 10: Aaron Segal: The Systematicity of Metaphysics: An Analytic Vindication 11: John Heil: Category Mistakes 12: Graham Priest: Reflections on Systematic Metaphysics 13: Daniel Nolan: Grounding, Explanation, and the Tasks of Metaphysics 14: Catharine Diehl: The Modal Disunity of Metaphysical Truths