The CEU Department of Philosophy cordially invites you to a talk
by
Øystein Linnebo (University of Bristol)
on
Ontological Minimalism
Tuesday, 11 March, 4.30 PM, Zrinyi 14, Room 412
ABSTRACT
A number of philosophers have been attracted to the idea that the existence of certain
kinds of objects is "cheap", in the sense that very little is required for there
to be objects of the kind in question. For instance, Frege and neo-Fregeans hold that
nothing more is required for the existence of directions than that there be lines standing
in the
relation of parallelism; mathematical structuralists hold that nothing more is required
for the existence of mathematical objects than that there could be concrete realizations
of certain structures; and some metaphysicians hold that nothing more is required for the
existence of mereological sums than that the relevant parts exist. I examine some problems
with existing forms of ontological minimalism. Then I develop what I take to be a better
form of the view, based on an assimilation of objects to semantic values and a minimalist
account of what is required for an expression to have a semantic value.
Kriszta Biber
Department Coordinator
Philosophy Department
Tel: 36-1-327-3806
Fax: 36-1-327-3072
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