Indeterminacy and Failure of Grounding. Issue 4 (27th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Assadian, Bahram; Nassim, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Theoria. Volume 85:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 288
• Publication Date: 2019-06-27
• Subjects: ground -- grounding failure -- haecceitism -- metaphysical indeterminacy -- referential indeterminacy; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1111/theo.12196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-5825

Abstract

Abstract: Cases of grounding failure present a puzzle for fundamental metaphysics. Typically, solutions are thought to lie either in adding ontology such as haecceities or in re‐describing the cases by means of the ideology of metaphysical indeterminacy. The controversial status of haecceities has led some to favour metaphysical indeterminacy as the way to solve the puzzle. We consider two further treatments of grounding failure each of which, we argue, is a more plausible alternative. As such, the initial dichotomy is a false one, and these alternative options deserve consideration before resorting to the heavyweight machinery of metaphysical indeterminacy.