In my dissertation, I focus primarily on the justification for beliefs in the sorts of propositions that are the focus of scrutiny and debate in contemporary analytic metaphysics. I develop a theory of justification that revolves around the explanatory fit between a metaphysical theory and its evidence. I go on to defend the view that beliefs in contemporary analytic metaphysics are justified against skeptics, many of whom identify with the logical empiricist tradition. Finally, I offer some suggestions as to how metaphysics as a discipline can progress by examining the methodology of metaphysics and arguing how empirical work can potentially move metaphysics forward.
","abstract_html":"<p>In my dissertation, I focus primarily on the justification for beliefs in the sorts of propositions that are the focus of scrutiny and debate in contemporary analytic metaphysics. I develop a theory of justification that revolves around the explanatory fit between a metaphysical theory and its evidence. I go on to defend the view that beliefs in contemporary analytic metaphysics are justified against skeptics, many of whom identify with the logical empiricist tradition. Finally, I offer some suggestions as to how metaphysics as a discipline can progress by examining the methodology of metaphysics and arguing how empirical work can potentially move metaphysics forward.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Lee, James Soo"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Philosophy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Kristopher McDaniel"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-08-25T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-08-25T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:55:19Z","subjects":["Epistemology","Explanation","Justification","Metaphysics","Methodology","Naturalism","Arts and Humanities"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://surface.syr.edu/etd/765","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Kristopher McDaniel"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Lee, James Soo"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Epistemology","Explanation","Justification","Metaphysics","Methodology","Naturalism","Arts and Humanities"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/765"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In my dissertation, I focus primarily on the justification for beliefs in the sorts of propositions that are the focus of scrutiny and debate in contemporary analytic metaphysics. I develop a theory of justification that revolves around the explanatory fit between a metaphysical theory and its evidence. I go on to defend the view that beliefs in contemporary analytic metaphysics are justified against skeptics, many of whom identify with the logical empiricist tradition. Finally, I offer some suggestions as to how metaphysics as a discipline can progress by examining the methodology of metaphysics and arguing how empirical work can potentially move metaphysics forward.
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