Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

33 | James Ladyman on Reality, Metaphysics, and Complexity

Feb 11, 2019
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INSIGHT

Reality As Useful Patterns

  • James Ladyman defines real things as those that are real patterns indispensable for prediction and explanation.
  • He argues tables are real because treating their parts as a whole gives information-efficiency and predictive purchase.
INSIGHT

Everyday Objects Still Count

  • Ladyman rejects the idea that only the fundamental micro-level is truly real and defends everyday ontology like horses and tables.
  • He focuses on the distinctions our ordinary talk marks between plausible and unsupported entities.
INSIGHT

Mathematics: Objective Yet Contested

  • Mathematical objects and abstractions require a modified account beyond concrete real patterns.
  • Ladyman leans to saying mathematics has an objective, mind-independent reality, but admits mathematicians disagree.
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