Metaphysical theories are beautiful. At the end of this book, Jiri
Benovsky defends the view that metaphysical theories possess aesthetic
properties and that these play a crucial role when it comes to theory
evaluation and theory choice.Before we get there, the philosophical path
the author proposes to follow starts with three discussions of
metaphysical equivalence. Benovsky argues that there are cases of
metaphysical equivalence, cases of partial metaphysical equivalence, as
well as interesting cases of theories that are not equivalent. Thus,
claims of metaphysical equivalence can only be raised locally. The
slogan is: the best way to do meta-metaphysics is to do first-level
metaphysics.To do this work, Benovsky focuses on the nature of
primitives and on the role they play in each of the theories involved.
He emphasizes the utmost importance of primitives in the construction of
metaphysical theories and in the subsequent evaluation of them.He then
raises the simple but complicated question: how to make a choice between
competing metaphysical theories? If two theories are equivalent, then
perhaps we do not need to make a choice. But what about all the other
cases of non-equivalent "equally good" theories? Benovsky uses some of
the theories discussed in the first part of the book as examples and
examines some traditional meta-theoretical criteria for theory choice
(various kinds of simplicity, compatibility with physics, compatibility
with intuitions, explanatory power, internal consistency, ...) only to
show that they do not allow us to make a choice.But if the standard
meta-theoretical criteria cannot help us in deciding between competing
non-equivalent metaphysical theories, how then shall we make that
choice? This is where Benovsky argues that metaphysical theories possess
aesthetic properties - grounded in non-aesthetic properties - and that
these play a crucial role in theory choice and evaluation. This view, as
well as all the meta-metaphysical considerations discussed throughout
the book, then naturally lead the author to a form of anti-realism, and
at the end of the journey he offers reasons to think better of the kind
of anti-realist view he proposes to embrace.
www.jiribenovsky.org
