Formal Ontology

The formal ontological approach to metaphysics investigates categories of being by analyzing ontological forms, providing a tool to assess the clarity, exactness, and intelligibility of different category systems. The authors propose a character-neutral relational account of ontological form, which is useful for understanding categorial fundamentality/non-fundamentality, different formal ontologies, and unifying metaphysical questions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Formal ontology, as a primary domain within metaphysics, delves into the examination of diverse categories of being. Within the framework of formal ontology, these ontological categories are subjected to thorough analysis through ontological forms. This analytical process, exemplified by various category systems, serves as a valuable tool for assessing the clarity, precision, and intelligibility of different category systems or formal ontologies. The Element provides a clear illustration of this analysis through its discussion of different category systems.

The authors of this work propose a character-neutral relational account of ontological form. In this metatheory, ontological forms of entities are understood as their positions in internal relations whose holding remains neutral concerning the character of their relata. These relations are formal ontological relations.

The Element concludes by demonstrating the usefulness of its metatheory in understanding categorial fundamentality/non-fundamentality, different formal ontologies, and the unification of metaphysical questions. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

ISBN-13: 9781009069069