What is the New Metaphysics of Science?

Mr Cristian Soto (University of Melbourne)

Title: What is the New Metaphysics of Science?

Abstract: In recent years there has been a revival of the question of
the nature of metaphysics. There are some eminently theoretical
issues, namely: is there any proper metaphysical knowledge? Does
metaphysics have a particular research framework and a specific
methodology? Does metaphysics merely belong to our anthropologically
minded arts and humanities, or is it instead a form of objective,
truth-conducive theoretical science? In this paper I firstly examine
the idea of a scientific, radically naturalistic metaphysics whose
primary goal consists in the elaboration of a systematic view of
reality based on our best scientific theories. From the standpoint of
this radically naturalistic metaphysics, I secondly examine three
widely accepted, although spurious, metaphysical problems, viz., those
of parthood, persons, and nothingness. Third, I look in detail at the
possibility of assessing the epistemic value of metaphysical theories
in comparison with the evaluation of scientific theories utilizing
different argumentative strategies such as the under-determination of
theories by evidence, the theory change, the cost-benefit analysis,
and the explanatory power. I conclude that if there is any proper role
for metaphysics in the search of the nature of reality, its problems
must be motivated by, and restricted to, our best scientific research
programmes in physical sciences.