Abstract: In this talk\, I offer a brief and opinionated sketch of the ontology of processes. I start by offering a general introduction to the category of processes\, and by discussing a few of the different reasons why one might think that it is important to get clear about the metaphysics of processes. In the rest of the paper I introduce the conception of process I am attracted to by reflecting on some interesting claims about process that I think are problematic\; claims associated in the recent literature with the work of Rowland Stout and Anthony Galton. Stout in particular has expressed scepticism about an idea suggested by a number of philosophers working on temporal ontology: that there is an analogy between the temporal notion of process and the spatial notion of stuff. For Stout\, processes are countable particulars\, and not to be understood in terms of non-countable temporal stuff. Stout has also argued that processes are &lsquo\;continuants&rsquo\;\, that is\, that they are things that persist over time in the way that concrete material objects do on an &lsquo\;endurantist&rsquo\; ontology. I will try to show why I think these lines of thought should be resisted\, and to outline a conception of process that offers a basis for that resistance.
\nComments: Graeme A Forbes (Kent)
ORGANIZER;CN=Graeme A Forbes;CN=Todd Mei: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR