Much ado about aboutness

Journal article

Baron, Sam, Chua, Reginald Mary, Miller, Kristie and Norton, James. (2022). Much ado about aboutness. Inquiry. 65(3), pp. 298-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020174X.2019.1592705
AuthorsBaron, Sam, Chua, Reginald Mary, Miller, Kristie and Norton, James
Abstract

Strong non-maximalism holds that some truths require no ontological ground of any sort. Strong non-maximalism allows one to accept that some propositions are true without being forced to endorse any corresponding ontological commitments. We show that there is a version of truthmaker theory available – anti-aboutness truthmaking – that enjoys the dialectical benefits of the strong non-maximalist’s position. According to anti-aboutness truthmaking, all truths require grounds, but a proposition need not be grounded in the very thing(s) that the proposition is about. We argue that if strong non-maximalism can be defended, then so can anti-aboutness truthmaking on the very same basis; one can enjoy the benefits of strong non-maximalism without giving up on the idea that truth is always grounded in being.

Keywordsaboutness; truthmaker non-maximalism; truthmaker theory; ontology; explanation
Year2022
JournalInquiry
Journal citation65 (3), pp. 298-326
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN0020-174X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/0020174X.2019.1592705
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85113962350
Page range298-326
Publisher's version
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All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online18 Mar 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted21 Jan 2019
Deposited03 Sep 2021
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