Philosophy Speakers: Ned Markosian (W. Wash), “Things or Stuff?”

This talk is about the choice between a thing ontology and a stuff ontology (as the correct ontology of the physical world, that is). I first spell out a particular way of understanding the question of whether the physical world is fundamentally a world of things or fundamentally a world of stuff. I then offer several reasons for positing irreducible stuff, followed by several reasons for positing irreducible things. Thus I defend a mixed ontology of both things and stuff. I also consider some serious doubts that I have about my proposal. Ned Markosian is professor of philosophy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. He specializes in metaphysics with main areas of research currently in the metaphysics of physical objects (especiallly the mereology of those objects and the relation between physical objects and the matter that constitutes them), and some questions about time. He is the author (with John Carroll) of An Introduction to Metaphysics (Cambridge University Press, 2010) and has numerous published articles.
Location:
Social Sciences 1253
More information at http://www.ucalgary.ca/events/calendar/philosophy-speakers-ned-markosian-w-wash-things-or-stuff