The Possibility of Metaphysics in Twentieth Century and Contemporary Philosophy

Members: Leila Haaparanta, Sami Pihlström, Heikki J. Koskinen, Hanne Ahonen, Jani Hakkarainen, Antti Keskinen, Ilmari Kortelainen, Kaisa Luoma
Funded by the Academy of Finland 2007 - 2010

Sites of research: Department of History and Philosophy, University of Tampere (main site of research), Department of Philosophy, University of Helsinki

In 1999 the Austrian Ludwig Wittgenstein Society organized its 22nd International Wittgenstein Symposium under the title ‘Metaphysics in the Post-Metaphysical Age’. The title conveyed essential features in contemporary philosophy. On the one hand, we have witnessed a return of metaphysics in the twentieth century analytic tradition after the anti-metaphysical period of logical positivism and ordinary language philosophy. On the other, philosophical trends such as postanalytic or postmodern philosophies, which have a strong hold in contemporary discussion, have declared the death of metaphysics. In addition, in the so-called Continental tradition the words ‘metaphysics’ and ‘ontology’ received new meanings. The history of twentieth century philosophy – to which we now, arguably, can adopt a proper historical perspective – has not yet been examined in any great detail, neither in Finland nor elsewhere. The role of metaphysics in that century is even less studied. What this study needs is a general metaphilosophical perspective and a context in which the various views of philosophy, either tacitly adopted or discussed in the twentieth century, are taken into account. Nor have the methods and argumentative strategies employed in contemporary metaphysics been systematically studied. The project poses the question concerning the possibility of metaphysics to twentieth century philosophical traditions, particularly to some of their representatives, as well as to contemporary metaphysicians. The project will study various affirmations and various rejections of metaphysics and arguments given by the two parties. It will also analyze the conditions under which metaphysics is regarded as possible in twentieth century and contemporary philosophy. The sub-projects of its members touch upon relations between logic and metaphysics in early twentieth century philosophy, Hume and the Vienna Circle’s rejection of metaphysics, Russell’s and Husserl’s methods of analysis, Wittgenstein’s and Foucault’s views on metaphysics, the methodology of contemporary analytic metaphysics, the methodology of metaphysics from the perspective of pragmatism and Kantian transcendental philosophy, the distinction between universals and particulars and the Aristotelian conception of metaphysics, and contemporary theories of reference and ontology. The group includes professors, post-doc researchers, doctoral students who are about to complete their studies and doctoral students who are in the very beginning of their studies. The results of the research will be published in the form of international monographs and both single-author and co-authored articles, as well as doctoral dissertations. In addition, international conferences will be organized, along with a number of smaller, both Finnish and international workshops or symposia.

Program of the research seminar:

Spring 2008

Autumn 2008