- Hardcover: 252 pages
- Publisher: OUP USA (14 Jun 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0195319915
- ISBN-13: 978-0195319910
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.5 x 2.3 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,067,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Ordinary Objects
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Review
"Ordinary Objects is well worth reading because it sheds new light on how to preserve the credibility of familiar things."--Marianne Djuth, The Review of Metaphysics
"In Ordinary Objects, Amie Thomasson mounts a spirited and vigorous defense of the reality of ordinary objects."--Terry Horgan, Times Literary Supplement
"In Ordinary Objects, Amie Thomasson mounts a spirited and vigorous defense of the reality of ordinary objects."--Terry Horgan, Times Literary Supplement
Review
"ORDINARY OBJECTS is well worth reading because it sheds new light on how to preserve the credibility of familiar things." "In ORDINARY OBJECTS , Amie Thomasson mounts a spirited and vigorous defense of the reality of ordinary objects." "ORDINARY OBJECTS is a fine book... [Thomasson] writes insightfully and persuasively, and she has a realistic view of what metaphysical arguments can and cannot demonstrate... she approaches metaphysical theorizing more systematically than many other recent writers, drawing attention to the ways in which questionable assumptions in one area of philosophy are undergirding seemingly powerful arguments in another. Everyone working in metaphysics should make time for this volume." "In ORDINARY OBJECTS , Thomasson pursues an integrated conception of ontology and metaontology. In ontology, she defends the existence of shoes, ships, and other ordinary objects. In metaontology, she defends a deflationary view of ontological inquiry, designed to suck the air out of arguments against ordinary objects. The result is an elegant and insightful defense of a common sense worldview." "Amie Thomasson has written a lovely book which is certain to irritate many professional metaphysicians. But it is not just irritating: it is challenging...This book would be good supplementary text for upper-level metaphysics classes or seminars in which the sorts of arguments to which Thomasson replies are also read."
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
what a relief
7 Nov 2011
Format:Paperback
I have known Dr. Thomasson since 1985 when we were in the undergraduate philosophy program at Duke, and I consider her a close friend. While my lowly bachelor's degree in philosophy is too limited to understand the nuances of this book (I decided to leave philosophy for the more lucrative but equally vague and abstract career running an Internet firm), I applaud that she tries to defend common sense -- namely that ordinary objects like tables and chairs do exist. That she is bucking the prevailing fad in philosophy -- that such ordinary objects do not exist -- is all the more reason for her to pursue her work, of which this book is just a small piece.
Amie and I have had many conversations about the role of philosophy in society, about whether it is still useful today or whether it's limited to academics writing ever more irrelevant papers to bolster their careers while the world moves forward without them. Does it solve today's problems? Do philosophers even care? Is pragmatism a dirty concept to be avoided, one that can only interfere with the sanctity of pure thought? But then, why would one have gone into metaphysics in the first place if pragmatism was a valued trait? Those people would probably have studied ethics instead, which is what I studied while I was at Duke. Call me pragmatic, I don't care.
When one follows an argument down a rabbit hole that ends up at a conclusion that defies common sense, one might want to question whether something went very wrong somewhere down the line. This is exactly what Amie does in her book. To which I say, bravo.
Amie and I have had many conversations about the role of philosophy in society, about whether it is still useful today or whether it's limited to academics writing ever more irrelevant papers to bolster their careers while the world moves forward without them. Does it solve today's problems? Do philosophers even care? Is pragmatism a dirty concept to be avoided, one that can only interfere with the sanctity of pure thought? But then, why would one have gone into metaphysics in the first place if pragmatism was a valued trait? Those people would probably have studied ethics instead, which is what I studied while I was at Duke. Call me pragmatic, I don't care.
When one follows an argument down a rabbit hole that ends up at a conclusion that defies common sense, one might want to question whether something went very wrong somewhere down the line. This is exactly what Amie does in her book. To which I say, bravo.
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