Classifying Reality

Assembling the views of today s leading metaphysicians on primary issues concerning the structure of reality and its taxonomy, this collection gets straight to the heart of one of the most hotly contested debates between philosophers and scientists. Assembling the views of today’s leading metaphysicians on primary issues concerning the structure of reality and its taxonomy, this collection gets straight to the heart of one of the most hotly contested debates between philosophers and scientists. It illuminates its subject from diverse angles that include the principles of evolutionary biology and the nature and identity of animate beings. While some contributors focus on the applied ontology necessary for classifying life in its multitude of forms, others address the problematic question of objectivity. Should we view nature as ‘carved at the joints’, with objective lineaments scientists strive to record, or is the classification of nature itself a wholly mind-dependent matter? The book deftly interweaves these overarching themes with more applied topics such as the taxonomy of disease progression. Distinguished metaphysicians examine issues central to the high-profile debate between philosophers over how to classify the natural world, and discuss issues in applied ontology such as the classification of diseases. Leading metaphysicians explore fundamental questions related to the classification and structure of the natural world An essential commentary on issues at the heart of the contemporary debate between philosophy and science Interweaves discussion of overarching themes with detailed material on applied ontology