Elementary particles and metaphysics

F. A. Müller

pp. 417-431

in: Dennis Dieks, Stephan Hartmann, Thomas Uebel, Marcel Weber, Maria C. Galavotti (eds), New directions in the philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2014

Abstract

We first rehearse a few very well known views on the nature of metaphysics, leading to the currently flourishing field of analytic metaphysics. We then wonder whether it is in a state of crisis and raise the issue of progress and focus on "naturalised metaphysics", in particular to Falkenburg's inquiry into the nature of elementary particles. We point to several possibilities to establish tighter connexions between philosophy of physics and analytic metaphysics that remain wide open. We go on to report more progress where philosophy of physics and metaphysics meet and deal with a threat in form of the Second UnderDetermination Thesis. A Ramseyan move to avoid the threat makes us land in ontic structural realism.