[koglist] invitation to a talk on `In Search of a Fundamental Level`by Tuomas E. Tahko - May 29, 10.00 AM

The CEU Department of Philosophy cordially invites you to a talk by Tuomas Tahko (University of Helsinki) on `In Search of a Fundamental Level` Tuesday, 29 May, 2014, 10.00 AM, Zrinyi 14, Room 412 ABSTRACT The talk deals with three related questions: 1. What is ‘fundamental’ about the supposed fundamental level of reality? 2. Is there such a fundamental level? 3. If there is, what can we know about the nature of this fundamental level? While it will be suggested that there are some reasons to think that there is a fundamental level, the primary contribution of the talk is methodological: the ‘levels’ metaphor, the meaning of ‘fundamental’, our means to inquire into the existence of a fundamental level, and the prospects of determining the nature of this level will be discussed. Two ways to understand fundamentality – in mereological and generic ontological terms – will be presented, and the role of ontological dependence, grounding, and well-foundedness examined. On this basis, the prospects for different types of metaphysical foundationalism and metaphysical infinitism will be evaluated. An argument to the effect that there is a fundamental level – in a yet to be specified sense – will be sketched. Krisztina Biber Department of Philosophy Coordinator ------------------------------------------ Central European University Nador u. 9. | 1051 Budapest, Hungary Office: + 36.1.327.3806 | biberk(a)ceu.hu | www.ceu.hu