Classifying Reality

Distinguished metaphysicians examine issues central to the high-profile debate between philosophers over how to classify the natural world, and discuss issues in applied ontology such as the classification of diseases. Leading metaphysicians explore fundamental questions related to the classification and structure of the natural world An essential commentary on issues at the heart of the contemporary debate between philosophy and science Interweaves discussion of overarching themes with detailed material on applied ontology

Notes on Contributors vii Introduction 1 1 Categorial Predication 5 E. J. Lowe 2 Nature’s Joints: A Realistic Defence of Natural Properties 23 D. H. Mellor 3 Boundaries in Reality 41 Tuomas E. Tahko 4 Contrastive Explanations in Evolutionary Biology 61 Stephen Boulter 5 Animate Beings: Their Nature and Identity 79 Gary S. Rosenkrantz 6 Classifying Processes: An Essay in Applied Ontology 101 Barry Smith Index 127