Abstract：Social ontology is one of the frontiers of contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of social science. Around the thesis of material constitution and material composition, a series of thought experiments on “Cloud Landscape” has had a profound influence on contemporary metaphysics. For this reason, two approaches have been formed: one is the mereological analysis, which focuses on whether the composition of things is restricted or not; the second is identity analysis, which focuses on whether there is some kind of identity criteria for temporal-spatial contingent objects. However, based on the mainstream position of mereological identity, it is difficult to respond to the challenge from the two principles of “constitution without composition” and “constitution is not identity”. Both aspects of mereological identity assume an anthropocentric position, so all that is needed for a robust realism about clouds is a concept of “relative sortal identity”, for which the concept of “possible worlds” is introduced. With the help of Epstein's “anchoring-grounding” model, Barnes's “ontological emergence” and Dasgupta's generalism, the presupposition of reductionism and individualism behind the mainstream position can be overcome. Thus, this approach to “cloud landscapes” is not only applicable to so-called natural species such as clouds but also powerfully characterizes the ontological characteristics of social facts and social groups. Finally, it shows that the “cloud landscape” of social facts and social groups must be based on the rejection of the mereological identity thesis.
陈常燊. “云景观”思想实验及其社会本体论运用[J]. 《深圳大学学报》（人文社科版）, 2023, 40(3): 125-132.
CHEN Chang-shen. The Thought Experiment of “Cloud Landscape” and Its Application in Social Ontology. , 2023, 40(3): 125-132.
[1] Geach P. T.Reference and Generality: An Examination of Some Medieval and Modern Theories[M].Ithaca: Cornell University Press,1980. [2] Gibbard A.Contingent Identity[J].Journal of Philosophical Logic,1975, (4): 187-221. [3] Rea M.The Problem of Material Constitution[J].Philoso-phical Review, 1995, (3): 525-552. [4] Unger P.The Problem of the Many[J].Midwest Studies in Philosophy,1980,(5):411-467. [5] Lewis D.Many,but Almost One[A].Bacon J.(ed.).Ontology, Causality and Mind: Essays in Honour of D.M. Armstrong[C].New York:Cambridge University Press,1993.164. [6] Lowe E. J.Vagueness and Metaphysics[A].Giuseppina, Ronzitti(ed.).Vagueness: A Guide[C].New York: Springer, 2011.19-54. [7] Leibniz G.Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom on Man and the Origin of Evil[M].Huggard,E. M.(trans.).La Salle,IL:Open Court,1985. [8] Marksonian,N.Brutal Composition[J].Philosophical Studies, 1998,92(3):211-249. [9] Johnston M.Constitution Is Not Identity[J].Mind,1992, 101(401):89-105. [10] Epstein B.Précis of The Ant Trap[J].Journal of Social Ontology,2016,2(1):125-134. [11] Lewis D.On the Plurality of Worlds[M].Oxford: Black-well,1986.211. [12] Epstein B.The Ant Trap: Rebuilding the Foundations of the Social Sciences[M].New York:Oxford University Press,2015.71. [13] (英)维特根斯坦. 哲学研究[M]. 陈嘉映译.上海:上海人民出版社,2001.83. [14] Barnes E.Emergence and Fundamentality[J].Mind, 2012, 121(484):873-900. [15] Barnes E.Going Beyond the Fundamental: Feminism in Contemporary Metaphysics[J].Proceedings of the Aristo-telian Society, 2014,114(3):335-351. [16] Epstein B.Social Objects Without Intentions[A].Ziv,A.& Schmid,H.(eds.).Institutions,Emotions,and Group Agents: Contributions to Social Ontology[C].New York:Springer, 2013.54. [17] Dasgupta S.Individuals:An Essay in Revisionary Meta-physics[J].Philosophical Studies,2009,145(1).113-115 [18] Philip, G. (ed.). Spinoza on Monism[C]. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.113-115.
2023, Vol. 40 
粤公网安备44030502007936号