The many-worlds and many-minds formulations of quantum mechanics are reconstructions of Hugh Everett ill's (19578, 1957b, 1973) relative-state fonnulation of quantum mechanics. Each is presented as a proposal for solving the quantum measurement problem. Much of the philosophical interest in these theories derives from the metaphysical commitments they suggest. They illustrate the roles played b...

This paper discusses the late Michael Dummett’s characterization of the estrangement between physics and philosophy. It argues against those physicists who hold that modern physics, rather than philosophy, can answer traditional metaphysical questions such as why there is something rather than nothing. The claim is that physics cannot solve metaphysical problems since metaphysical issues are in...

Introduction The Microphysical Realm Level 1: Elementary Particles Level 2 : Atoms, Elements; Nuclear Fusion Level 3: Organic Polymers, Crystals Level 4: Chemical Systems, RNA The Biophysical Realm Level 5: The Cell; DNA The Cell Level 6: Organisms Level 7: Species Level 8: Gaia The Biological Role of Humanity The Astrophysical Realm Level 9: Stars Level 10: Galaxy Level 11: Universe Level 12: ...

This essay examines and criticizes a set of Kantian objections to Parfit’s attempt in Reasons and Persons to connect his theory of personal identity to practical rationality and moral philosophy. Several of Parfit’s critics have tried to sever the link he forges between his metaphysical and practical conclusions by invoking the Kantian thought that even if we accept his metaphysical theory of p...

A wave of recent work in metaphysics seeks to undermine the anti-reductionist, functionalist consensus of the past few decades in cognitive science and philosophy of mind. That consensus apparently legitimated a focus on what systems do, without necessarily and always requiring attention to the details of how systems are constituted. The new metaphysical challenge contends that many states and ...

The standard mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics is specified. Bohm s ontological interpretation of quantum mechanics is then shown to be incapable of providing a suitable interpretation of that formulation. It is also shown that Bohm’s interpretation may well be viable for two alternative mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics, meaning that the negative result is a significan...

We propose that not all such arguments are on a par. The first section of the paper distinguishes dialectically effective from dialectically ineffective arguments against metaphysical vagueness. The second section constructs an argument against metaphysical vagueness – specifically, an argument against objects that are indeterminate in what parts they have – which promises to be dialectically e...

Data captured from the physical world through receptor devices such as wireless sensor networks and RFID readers tend to be low-level, device-specific, inconsistent, and unreliable. Meanwhile, data management and query processing techniques in the digital world rely on understandable, consistent, and complete data. This paper aims to bridge this physical-digital divide by introducing Virtual de...