Properties

Edited by D. H. Mellor and Alex Oliver

Properties

Edited by D. H. Mellor and Alex Oliver

Description

When we say a certain rose is red, we seem to be attributing a property, redness, to it. But are there really such properties? If so, what are they like, how do we know about them, and how are they related to the objects which have them and the linguistic devices which we use to talk about them? This collection presents these ancient problems in a modern light. In particular, it makes accessible for the first time the most important contributions to the contemporary controversy about the nature of properties. Those new to the subject will find the clearly-written introduction, by two experts in the field, an invaluable guide to the intricacies of this debate. The volume illustrates very well the aims and methods of modern metaphysics and show how a thorough understanding of the metaphysics of properties is crucial to most of analytic philosophy.

Properties

Edited by D. H. Mellor and Alex Oliver

Oxford Readings in Philosophy

Introduction, D. H. Mellor and Alex Oliver
I. Function and Concept, Gottlob Frege
II. The World of Universals, Bertrand Russell
III. On Our Knowledge of Universals, Bertrand Russell
IV. Universals, F. P. Ramsey
V,. On What There Is, W. V. Quine
VI. Statements About Universals, Frank Jackson
VII. Ostrich Nominalism or Mirage Realism?, Michael Devitt
VIII. Against Ostrich Nominalism: A Reply to Michael Devitt, D. M. Armstrong
IX. On the Elements of Being: I, Donald C. Williams
X. The Metaphysics of Abstract Particulars, Keith Campbell
XI. Tropes, Chris Daly
XII. Properties, D. M. Armstrong
XIII. Modal Realism at Work, David Lewis
XIV. New Work For a Theory of Universals, David Lewis
XV. Causality and Properties, Sydney Shoemaker
XVI. Properties and Predicates, D. H. Mellor
Notes on the Contributors
Select Bibliography
Index of Names

Properties

Edited by D. H. Mellor and Alex Oliver

Oxford Readings in Philosophy

Author Information

D. H. Mellor is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and Fellow of Darwin College. His books include The Facts of Causation (1995), Matters of Metaphysics (1991), and Real Time (1981).

Alex Oliver is University Assistant Lecturer in Philosophy at Cambridge University, and Fellow of and Director of Studies in Philosophy at Queens College, Cambridge. He was previously Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.