The Four-Category Ontology —— A Metaphysical Foundation for Natural Science

----- 四大类本体：自然科学的形而上学基础

ISBN: 9780199229819 出版年：2006 页码：237 Lowe, E J Clarendon Press

E. J. Lowe, a prominent figure in contemporary metaphysics, sets out and defends his theory of what there is. His four-category ontology is a metaphysical system which recognizes four fundamental categories of beings: substantial and non-substantial particulars and substantial and non-substantial universals. Lowe argues that this system has an explanatory power which is unrivalled by more parsimonious theories and that this counts decisively in its favour. He shows that it provides a powerful explanatory framework for a unified account of causation, dispositions, natural laws, natural necessity and many other related matters, thus constituting a full metaphysical foundation for natural science.