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Work #456 · Early

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

P.F. Strawson
1959 · English
Descriptive metaphysics · British analytic philosophy / Oxford

Strawson's 1959 foundational descriptive metaphysics — bodies and persons as basic particulars

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics (Early)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

The temporal life of particulars in our conceptual scheme.

Space

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

The spatial framework of basic particulars.

Matter

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

Bodies as basic particulars.

Observer

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

Persons as primitive ontological category.

Energy

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

Energies of ontological-conceptual articulation.

Information

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

Descriptive-metaphysical framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics

Strawson's descriptive metaphysics in continuing dialogue with revisionary metaphysics (Quine) and Lewis-style modal metaphysics.