Metaphysics
There are two versions of this course. The introductory level course focuses on three main topics: (1) time, (2) personal identity, and (3) freedom. The upper-level course focuses on a variety of topics in metaphysics, including, but not limited to, the following: the nature and method of ontology, abstract objects, ontological commitment, temporal ontology, paraphrase, possible worlds, properties, material composition, puzzles associated with material coincidence, death, and time travel.
Videos
- Death, Well-being, and the Difference-Making Principle
- Four Dimensionalism, A Puzzle of Material Coincidence, and the Humanistic Consequences of 4D
- Experience and Non-Present Objects
- Four Theories of Time - An Introduction
- Letting the Child Drown - Moral Indifference in a World of Possible Worlds
- Ontological Commitment and Paraphrase
- The triviality of ontology partially considered: Permissivism about abstracta
Slides for 100-level Metaphysics
Unit 1: Time
- Intuitions on time
- Introduction to Theories of time
- Moving spotlight theory
- Eternalism
- Presentism and the growing block
Unit 2: Personal Identity
- Synchronic Identity
- Diachronic Psychological Identity
- Reduplication Problems
- Diachronic Physical Identity
- Further Fact and Hybrid Theories
- The Characterization Question
Unit 3: Freedom
- Synchronic Identity
- Compatibilism
- Incompatibilism
- Libertarianism and Indeterminism
- Extra-factor and dualisms
- Simple Indeterminism
- Hard Determinism
- God and Freedom
Handouts
The seminar version of the metaphysics course uses handouts rather than lecture slides. Handouts for Metaphysics Seminar - Fall 2022