Researchers in this strength undertake to answer metaphysical questions about what exists and how the various categories of existents are related to one another, as for instance the manner of existence possessed by numbers or by God. A particular question in metaphysics addressed by the team is the nature of the relation between minds and bodies.
Logic is the study of ways in which theories, including metaphysical theories, can be expressed and justified. Monash Arts’ strength in metaphysics is closely integrated with research strength in logic, including not only formal logic and the study of rigorous reasoning in mathematics, but also the history of logic, and critical reflections on issues in philosophical logic, such as the nature of representation, reference and truth.
Recent research grants for researchers working in these areas:
- Conscious states in conscious creatures: A philosophical framework for the science of consciousness. Jakob Hohwy and Tim Bayne, ARC Discovery Project, 2009-11.
- Rules in Logic, Lloyd Humberstone, ARC Discovery Project, 2009-13.
- Neglected Problems of Time: Metaphysical and topological issues arising from the physics of time. Graham Oppy, Toby Handfield, B. Loewer, J. Butterfield and A. Bird, ARC Discovery Project, 2009-11.
- Mereological Composition and Material Constitution, Neil McKinnon (ARC PD) and John Bigelow, 2008-10 ($273,000).
- Probability and necessity in the physical sciences, Toby Handfield (ARC PD) and Stephen Barker (Nottingham), 2006–09 ($223,000).
- The Epistemology of Colour Vision, Ian Gold and Mazvitta Chirimuuta (ARC PD), 2005–07 ($202,500).
- Causation and Dispositional Properties, Toby Handfield and Graham Oppy. Monash Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2004-05.
- Perception, interpretation and the explanation of delusional beliefs, Martin Davies (ANU), Ian Gold, Daniel Stoljar (ANU), ARC Discovery Grant 2003-05 ($284,000).
- Philosophical Foundations for Probabilistic Inference and Probabilistic Prediction, Graham Oppy and David Dowe (Monash, IT), ARC Discovery Grant 2003-05 ($130,000).
- Semantics, Externalism and a priori truth, John Bigelow. ARC Discovery Grant 2003 ($54,000).
- The Self and its Pathologies, Ian Gold and Jeanette Kennett, ARC Network Seed Grant 2003. ($10,000).
- Intentionality and Proper Function, Graham Oppy. Monash Arts Small Grant, 2003.
- Causation and Bayesian Nets, Graham Oppy, Toby Handfield, Kevin Korb. Monash Arts/ IT Grant, 2003.
- Logical Theory and Sentence Composition — A General and Comparative Study of the Principal Sentential Connectives, Lloyd Humberstone, ARC Senior Research Fellowship 2002-06 ($145,000).
- Effective Pedagogy for Improved Critical Thinking, Ian Gold, Graham Oppy, Sam Butchart, ARC Linkage Grant 2002-04 ($150,000).
- Irrationality and Explanation in Schizophrenia: a case study in the foundations of neuroscience, Ian Gold, ARC Large Grant 2001-2003, ($136,000).
- God and Infinity, Graham Oppy, Monash Research Fund Project Grant 2001-02.
The McDonnell Project in Philosophy and the Neurosciences
- , Ian Gold.
