Wayne State University
Department of Philosophy
PhD, 1998
Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Metaphysics
Meta-Ethics
Normative Ethics
  • The Metaphysical Ground of Similarity
    Dissertation, Wayne State University. 1998.
    In this dissertation I argue that universal attributes are the metaphysical ground of similarity, and that the ultimate reason embracing realism is that an explanation of similarity must posit the existence of universals. Other arguments for the existence of universals are ultimately motivated by the desire to explain phenomena, such as laws of nature, general predication, and general knowledge, that seem to depend on similarity. ;This work is structured on metaphilosophical principles of Lawren…Read more
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    The permeability of causal criteria of identity for universals
    Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 83 (1). 2002.
    To analyze the concept of a human merely in terms of the concept of a primate is to let all kinds of monkeys and apes into a category reserved for humans. Criteria of identity for universal attributes formulated merely in terms of causal roles associated with universals involve a similar permeability, since they cannot distinguish universals from non‐universal attributes. Without appealing to the existence of noncausal universals or resorting to charges of circularity, I will show that causal cr…Read more