Questioning the Concept of Structure in Sider’s Metametaphysics

Mohseni, Mehdi; Valeh, Hosein

doi:10.48308/kj.2025.241350.1353

Questioning the Concept of Structure in Sider’s Metametaphysics

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Authors

philosophy, literature and humanities, shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran.

10.48308/kj.2025.241350.1353

Abstract

A growing body of recent metaphysical literature is concerned with the question of what metaphysical realism amounts to. In his influential book, Writing the Book of the World, Theodore Sider presents a distinctive account of realism grounded in the notion of structure. Drawing on David Lewis’s idea of naturalness, Sider extends the concept beyond predicates to include other syntactic categories, such as quantifiers, arguing that these too can be either fundamental or non-fundamental. This extension enables a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of what it means for a theory to carve nature at its joints. In this paper, I examine the nature of structure and explore the key arguments Sider offers in support of it. I argue that the distinction between ontology and ideology is central to understanding Sider’s proposal. Sider’s account of metaphysical inquiry enriches the scope of ideological inquiry and emphasizes its role. I will suggest that the notion of structure as ideology remains obscure. I turn to some arguments against the notion of structure. The arguments are not demonstrative. Some possible escape routes for Sider are outlined. But I think the arguments constitute a formidable challenge.

Highlights

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Keywords

Main Subjects

Analytical Philosophy

References