The Four-Category Ontology A Metaphysical Foundation for Natural Science [Hardcover]

E. J. Lowe, a prominent figure in contemporary metaphysics, sets out and defends his theory of what there is. His four-category ontology is a metaphysical system which recognizes four fundamental categories of beings: substantial and non-substantial particulars and substantial and non-substantial universals. Lowe argues that this system has an explanatory power which is unrivaled by more parsimonious theories and that this counts decisively in its favor. He shows that it provides a powerful explanatory framework for a unified account of causation, dispositions, natural laws, natural necessity and many other related matters, thus constituting a full metaphysical foundation for natural science.

I. Metaphysics, Ontology, and Logic
1. Ontological Categories and Categorical Schemes
2. The Four-Category Ontology and its Rivals
3. Some Formal Ontological Relations
4. Formal Ontology and Logical Syntax
II. Objects and Properties
5. The Concept of an Object in Formal Ontology
6. Properties, Modes, and Universals
7. Ramsey's Problem and its Solution
III. Metaphysics and Natural Science
8. Dispositions Natural Laws
9. Kinds, Essence, and Natural Necessity
10. Categorial Ontology and Scientific Essentialism
IV. Truth, Truthmaking, and Metaphysical Realism
11. Metaphysical Realism and the Unity of Truth
12. Truthmaking, Necessity, and Essential Dependence