Stephen Makin offers an account of indifference arguments and the pre-Socratic atomism underpinned by this sort of reasoning. Used by Parmenides, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle and Leibniz, as well as some contemporary philosophers, indifference arguments start from claims about a balance of reasons or an absence of asymmetries. While some provide plausible support for strong conclusion, others produce no conviction. Makin offers an explanation of indifference arguments which provides answers to such philosopical questions as: what are indifference arguments?; what makes a good piece of indifference reasoning?; how do the arguments work?; do they involve claims about the rationality of belief?; and do they entail metaphysical commitments? He goes on to outline the significance of indifference arguments for contemporary philosophy. The account that is presented of the Emocritean atomic theory emphasises the continuity of atomism with earlier thought. A number of Zeno's arguments are considered, and there is some discussion of other Eleatics. Indifference arguments in other ancient philosophers, such as Anaximander and Aristotle, also receive attention.
The book should be of interest to all those interested in ancient philosophy and philosophical logic.
Table of Contents:
Preface ix 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Indifference Arguments 1
1.2 Presocratic Atomism 8
1.3 The Importance of Logical Analysis 14
Notes 15
2 The Eleatics 17
2.1 Why Zeno Needs Indifference Arguments 18
2.2 Where Zeno Uses Indifference Arguments 24
2.3 Parmenides and Division 28
2.4 Indifference Reasoning in Melissus? 33
2.5 Eleatic Indifference Reasoning 41
Notes 42
3 The Atomists 49
3.1 Indifference and Indivisibility 49
3.2 Indifference and Variety 62
3.3 Indifference and Epistemology 65
Notes 84
4 Some Other Indifference Arguments 98
4.1 Preamble 98
4.2 Anaximander's Earth 101
4.3 Aristotle against the Void 105
4.4 Agents and Patients 115
4.5 Closing Remarks 122
Notes 123
5 The Form of Indifference Arguments 129
5.1 Two Types of Argument 130
5.2 Reasons and Modalities 134
Notes 157
6 Epistemological Indifference Arguments 160
6.1 Are All Indifference Arguments Epistemological? 160
6.2 Ou Mallon and Ancient Scepticism 167
6.3 A Democritean Argument 170
6.4 Sorites Arguments 178
6.5 Arbitrary Objects and Qualifications 194
6.6 Conclusion 200
Notes 201
7 Indifference Arguments without Epistemology 208
7.1 The Non-Epistemological Reading 208
7.2 An Argument for a Weak Principle of Plenitude 212
7.3 The Democritean Arguments 219
7.4 Looking Back 224
Notes 229
Appendix 231
Bibliography 233
Index 239
About the Author :
Stephen Makin has taught philosophy at Sheffield University since 1984. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and has been a Research Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He has published articles on ancient philosophy, Aquinas, and the philosophy of religion.
