Indifference Arguments

In this book Stephen Makin offers a striking new account of some intriguing but neglected arguments - indifference arguments - and of the presocratic atomism underpinned by indifference reasoning. Used by Parmenides, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle and Leibniz as well as some contemporary philosophers, indifference arguments start from claims about a balance of reasons or an absence of asymmetries. While some provide plausible support for surprisingly strong conclusions, others produce no conviction. Here, Makin offers an account of indifference arguments and provides answers to such philosophical questions as 'What makes a good piece of indifference reasoning?', 'How do the arguments work?', 'Do they involve claims about metaphysical commitments?' The account that is presented of the Democritean atomic theory strongly emphasizes the continuity of atomism with earlier thought. A number of Zeno's arguments are considered, and there is some discussion of other Eleatics. Indifference arguments in other ancient philosophers, such as Anaximander and Aristotle, also receive attention. The book will be of interest to all those concerned with ancient philosophy and philosophical logic.

Preface ix 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Indifference Arguments 1 1.2 Presocratic Atomism 8 1.3 The Importance of Logical Analysis 14 Notes 15 2 The Eleatics 17 2.1 Why Zeno Needs Indifference Arguments 18 2.2 Where Zeno Uses Indifference Arguments 24 2.3 Parmenides and Division 28 2.4 Indifference Reasoning in Melissus? 33 2.5 Eleatic Indifference Reasoning 41 Notes 42 3 The Atomists 49 3.1 Indifference and Indivisibility 49 3.2 Indifference and Variety 62 3.3 Indifference and Epistemology 65 Notes 84 4 Some Other Indifference Arguments 98 4.1 Preamble 98 4.2 Anaximander's Earth 101 4.3 Aristotle against the Void 105 4.4 Agents and Patients 115 4.5 Closing Remarks 122 Notes 123 5 The Form of Indifference Arguments 129 5.1 Two Types of Argument 130 5.2 Reasons and Modalities 134 Notes 157 6 Epistemological Indifference Arguments 160 6.1 Are All Indifference Arguments Epistemological? 160 6.2 Ou Mallon and Ancient Scepticism 167 6.3 A Democritean Argument 170 6.4 Sorites Arguments 178 6.5 Arbitrary Objects and Qualifications 194 6.6 Conclusion 200 Notes 201 7 Indifference Arguments without Epistemology 208 7.1 The Non-Epistemological Reading 208 7.2 An Argument for a Weak Principle of Plenitude 212 7.3 The Democritean Arguments 219 7.4 Looking Back 224 Notes 229 Appendix 231 Bibliography 233 Index 239