Fundamentality in Physics and Metaphysics

• Applicant: Kian Salimkhani
• Subject Area: Theoretical Philosophy
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 529457328

Debates on fundamentality are at the center of contemporary metaphysics. Similarly, fundamentality has become key to debates in the philosophy of physics. However, with respect to the latter, it is often unclear what is meant precisely by the concept. Investigations into issues of fundamentality in the philosophy of science are usually conducted without taking sufficient notice of the metaphysical work on the matter. On the other hand, scientific case studies are scarce when metaphysicians try to articulate notions like fundamentality. Hence, the general aim of this project is bringing together perspectives on fundamentality from physics, philosophy of physics, and metaphysics to study the different dimensions of issues of fundamentality in physics and metaphysics, and answer pressing conceptual, ontological and methodological questions at the intersection of philosophy of physics and metaphysics. Specifically, the aim of this project is to explore fundamentality in physics and metaphysics with respect to the following research questions: (i) What concepts of fundamentality are used in physics and metaphysics and how are they related? (ii) Are there any constraints on what can serve as a fundamental? (iii) What fixes the direction of dependence relations? (iv) How can we fruitfully demarcate debates on fundamentality from debates on reality? (v) What is the exact contribution of physics to metaphysics?

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Netherlands