minseok kim

Groundwork for a Return to Parsimonious First-order Metaphysics

The dissertation defends first-order metaphysics, the thesis that theorizing about reality must be conducted solely in first-order language. A growing movement defends the contrary view—higher-order metaphysics—according to which such theorizing requires higher-order languages (e.g., higher-order quantification) as well. Some of the central arguments for this movement appeal to distinct versions of Russell’s Paradox to show that first-order metaphysics cannot be sustained. I argue that once first-order metaphysics is paired with the principle of ontological parsimony, these paradoxes can be neutralized. Along the way, I examine why theorizing about reality in higher-order terms might be undesirable, one crucial reason being that it obscures metaphysical investigation along both ontological and ideological dimensions.