Objective The proposed project aims at investigating the metaphysics of indeterminacy in ancient philosophy. By relying on the aid ofcontemporary metaphysics (in particular, Van Inwagen's materialism and Merricks', and Stage-theory of material objects),the project will show that the metaphysics of indeterminacy was an important, yet neglected, part of ancient metaphysics,from the time of Democritus to that of Aenesidemus.The project will deal with a variety of Greek philosophers, traditionally understood as subjectivists (this very general label asmeant to include relativists, sceptics, infallibilists and nihilists). These are the following ones: Democritus, Protagoras andGorgias, Heraclitus, the Socratic schools of the Cyrenaics (including later exponents of the school, such as Theodorus theGodless) and the Megarians (Euclides, Eubulides, Diodorus Cronus, Stilpo), Pyrrho and neo-pyrrhonism (Aenesidemus).The project will demonstrate that, although in different ways, all the philosophers just mentioned adhered to a view of theworld according to which either 1) objects of perception are indeterminate with regard to their properties or 2) objects inthemselves are best understood as indeterminate items (in particular, on this latter view, objects as stable and unitary itemsare denied to be existing).The project is both historical and philosophical, in so far as not only does it attempt to reconstruct the details of ancientconceptions of metaphysical indeterminacy, but it will also try to demonstrate the philosophical viability of those conceptionsby drawing close parallelisms with current theories of metaphysical indeterminacy.To appreciate the pervasiveness of metaphysical indeterminacy in ancient Greek philosophy is tantamount to providing arevolutionary insight in the history of ancient metaphysics (and of metaphysics tout court) by challenging the standard viewthat sees it dominated by Plato’s and Aristotle’s different, yet cognate, essentialisms. Fields of science humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophyhistory of philosophyancient philosophyhumanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicshumanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophymetaphysics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM Net EU contribution € 195 454,80 Address Stockton road the palatine centre DH1 3LE Durham United Kingdom See on map Region North East (England) Tees Valley and Durham Durham CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
