Paula Tomi: "Does easy ontology work?"

Paula Tomi, University of Bucharest: "Does easy ontology work?"

Abstract
According to the easy approach to ontology, most metaphysical questions have straightforward answers. If it is accepted that this perspective manages to surpass some of the critiques of the mainstream metaphysics (neo-Quinean ones), then we can answer some of the existence questions easily starting from some uncontroversial premises, adding some trivial inferences and ending up with ontological conclusions (Thomasson, 2014). In this way, we can clarify and resolve many issues regarding the methodology and epistemology of metaphysics. However, there are some questions that might be raised about this perspective. The critiques can be classified on three levels. Firstly, there seems to be no necessary relation between metaphysical deflationism and semantical deflationism. Secondly, there are some weak points of Thomasson’s perspective of metaphysical deflationism. Thirdly, the jump from metaphysical deflationism to easy ontology (meta-metaphysical deflationism) does not seem to be necessary. In this presentation I am going to focus on the last two sets of critiques, trying to also sketch answers to some of them.