David Armstrong

David (D. M.) Armstrong's work has helped shape contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of mind, providing an integrated and systematic view of the world with numerous interconnections between the topics of properties, laws, causation, facts, truth, powers and minds. This book is the first to offer an introduction to the full range of Armstrong's thought. Stephen Mumford examines Armstrong's development of a core metaphysical program consistent with a scientific view of the natural world, including Armstrong's naturalism, his most general commitment, his realism about universals, and his work on laws of nature, modality, dispositions and states of affairs. With the basics of Armstrong's core theory in place, Mumford goes on to examine his work on perception, mind, knowledge and belief. The book concludes with a return to metaphysics and Armstrong's latest ideas on truth and his new view of instantiation. Mumford's examination also draws attention to areas of weakness within Armstrong's account and highlights issues where there is room for further debate, particularly the implications of Armstrong's new theory of instantiation for his singular vision of the world.

About the Author:
Stephen Mumford is Professor of Metaphysics at the University of Nottingham