Metaphysics Final Study Guide
The following was my a study guide I typed out for my Metaphysics final exam. The Indispensability Argument Quine - On What There Is What is the problem that Quine is addressing? The problem that Quine is addressing is the problem of referring to things that do not exist. How can one sensibly say that Pegasus does not exist? Of what is one speaking of if Pegasus does not really exist? If Pegasus does not exist, the word “Pegasus” doesn’t pick anything out. Non-being in some sense must be, otherwise, what is there that is not? One wants to say the things Jim says exist do not actually exist, but I cannot admit there are things that Jim accepts as existing that don’t exist. Otherwise I am talking about them as things. What is Quine’s use of Russell’s theory of definite descriptions to address the problems? Quine uses Russell’s theory of definite descriptions to rephrase “Pegasus” as the description “the winged horse that was captured by Bellerophon” and following Russell’s theory, expres...