Can AI Rely on the Systematicity of Truth? The Challenge of Modelling Normative Domains

Philosophy & Technology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 38(1)

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Rethinking Metaphysics

Published: Feb. 25, 2025

Abstract This book aims to change how we think about what metaphysics can do, and why it matters. Traditionally, has been presented as aiming discover deep truths the world. But this leads a rivalry with science, mysteries could gain knowledge, despairing skepticism our ability knowledge in metaphysics. Rethinking Metaphysics diagnoses problems traditional many recent approaches arising from problematic assumption that all discourse functions same way. By drawing on work linguistics, shows develop richer view of linguistic enables us see astray. A better understanding plurality also disentangle ourselves old metaphysical problems. In place model, should conceptual engineering—including both reverse-engineering projects aimed at various parts language scheme they serve, constructive-engineering investigate concepts use. engineering way avoid views metaphysics, while demonstrating perennial importance human life. For talk is centrally important live organize societies investigations. And ways thinking speaking must constantly be rethought situations new technology, evolving needs.

Language: Английский

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Preface

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

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The Explanatory Conception of Metaphysics

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract After Quine, it has been common to see metaphysics as continuous with the natural sciences, in aiming develop a best total explanatory theory, and confirmable our theory. This chapter argues, however, that we have reason doubt ontological content of theory shares its confirmation. As result, conception falls prey familiar problems rivalry science epistemological mystery. also aims diagnose underlying mistake relying on functional monist assumption all relevant terms serve an function. Once recognize many functions both within outside scientific theories, can why is wrong accept across-the-board power criterion for accepting entities. We should reject metaphysics.

Language: Английский

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The Structural Conception of Metaphysics

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract Theodore Sider proposed an alternative view of the project metaphysics: that it has as its goal to determine “fundamental structure world.” generalizes Armstrong/Lewis some predicates are “joint-carving,” in a way enables us ask whether any concept (including temporal concepts, modal logical etc.) is “joint-carving.” But generalizing about natural kind terms make include all kinds this approach assumes functional monism: assuming question (should) function carve world at joints. This assumption prevents from seeing many different functions sorts language and concepts serve our theories lives, criteria by which they appropriately evaluated.

Language: Английский

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The Traditional Conception of Metaphysics

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract Metaphysics has traditionally been characterized as aiming to discover highly general, basic, or fundamental facts about the world. But this way of thinking metaphysics become outdated and problematic. This chapter presents three central problems that arise for conception metaphysics, including a rivalry with science, proliferation views in leads skepticism, epistemological mystery. The also prefigures diagnosis where various approaches go wrong: assuming all types discourse interest function track describe features One goal book is show how we can identify different functions areas serve, ways enable us unravel old metaphysical problems. Another avoid traditional by reconceiving work conceptual engineering.

Language: Английский

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The Truthmaker Conception of Metaphysics

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract This chapter argues that the truthmaker conception of metaphysics relies on a problematic functional monist assumption. Attempts to determine “fundamental ontology” world by finding truthmakers” face troubles, given ontological flexibility language. For range grammatical alternatives, there is no typically unique statement what entities must be in make sentence true. More often, approach employed as constraint used “catch cheaters” insisting theorist give some account truthmakers are for truths one accepts. But this demand simply assumes all forms language function track “portion reality” virtue which they true or false. As result, it rules out without argument whole interesting and plausible non-descriptive approaches mathematical, moral, modal, other areas discourse.

Language: Английский

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Reverse Engineering

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract The analyses of linguistic functions that have emerged from systemic functional linguistics are used here to show why past approaches metaphysics went astray, and how we can unravel old metaphysical problems, such as problems about abstract objects modality. Understanding the introduction rules grammatical metaphors gives us reason accept “easy” arguments for existence properties numbers, shows many supposed arise accepting abstracta metalinguistic category mistakes. Attention entry modal discourse various forms likewise enables re-evaluate traditional facts, properties, possible worlds, our knowledge them. These provide examples ways “reverse engineering” understand enable make better decisions what do with long seen metaphysically “problematic.”

Language: Английский

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The Perennial Philosophical Project

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract This work in conceptual engineering still deserves to be called “metaphysics” emphasize the continuities with much past historical metaphysics—some of which can seen as engaged reverse engineering, and other parts metalinguistic negotiation over how our terms such “person,” “freedom,” or “art” should used. Moreover, this reconception metaphysics ensures that its is very worth doing. For what language concepts we use has enormous consequences for think live, organize institutions scientific investigations. It also never finished, since must constantly rethought new social, environmental, technological contexts. Rethinking demonstrates role an important perennial human project.

Language: Английский

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Identifying Linguistic Functions

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract To do a conceptual-engineering project well, we need good notion of linguistic function, so that can identify the functions extant parts language have served and are to serve. This chapter confronts various sources skepticism about our ability functions, makes use work in systemic functional linguistics show how subsystems language. Systemic begins from identifying three metafunctions nearly all clauses simultaneously serve: ideational, interpersonal, textual. It also identifies important “grammatical metaphors” (which introduced via shifts one part speech another) developing scientific theories bureaucracies. approach function not only enables us overcome old but disentangle ourselves many metaphysical problems.

Language: Английский

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