Is the world hierarchically arranged, incorporating 'levels' of reality? What is the nature of objects and properties? What does 'realism' about ordinary objects or states of mind demand? When an assertion is true, what makes it true? Are natural properties best regarded as qualities or powers or some combination of these? What are colours? What explains the 'projective' character of intentionality? What is the nature of consciousness, and what relation do conscious experiences bear to material states and processes? From an Ontological Point of View endeavours to provide answers to such questions through an examination of ground-floor issues in ontology. The result is an account of the fundamental constituents of the world around us and an application of this account to problems dominating recent work in the philosophy of mind and metaphysics. The book, written in an accessible, non-technical style, is intended for non-specialists as well as seasoned metaphysicians.
Reviews
It was a pleasure to read, exciting, persuasive, and dismaying by turns as I found cherished positions challenged and sometimes upstaged by more attractive and economical options ... a very rich book, full of new and interesting ideas, and of old ideas made interesting in new ways. * James G. Murphy, Milltown Studies *
Heils book is masterful, wide-ranging, and instructive. It is also tightly argued, insightful, and provocative. The book is written in an admirably clear analytic style and is extremely well organized (each of the twenty concise chapters is subdivided into short numbered sections). . . . I strongly recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in ontology or the philosophy of mind. * Gary Rosenkrantz, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199259748
Author John Heil
Format Hardback
Page Count 284
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 537g
Dimensions(mm) 241mm * 163mm * 20mm