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Accepted manuscript

A new metaphysical picture of natural kinds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2025

Jisoo Seo*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
*
*Corresponding author: jisooseo@buffalo.edu
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Abstract

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The stable property cluster view of natural kinds leaves the metaphysical structure of natural kinds open. The positive corollary of this feature is freedom from explaining the nature of problematic entities and that it affords natural kind status and flexibility. However, some worries are raised against this feature; the metaphysical structure of natural kinds is required for explaining their epistemic values such as inductive and explanatory power. Here I take the criticisms at face value and offer a possible metaphysical model of the SPC account that does not meddle with the merits but mitigates the worries.

Information

Type
Contributed Paper
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Philosophy of Science Association