Is Quinean naturalism dependent on the metametalanguage of metaphysics?

Abstract

I will demonstrate that Quinean naturalism must accommodate a priori truths in its epistemology if it aims to retain its naturalist stance. This happens because
the laws of first-order logic which it uses in the regimentation of scientific theories are best perceived as metaphysical principles rather than logical laws. To support this position, I will demonstrate that since our best scientific theories are dependent on the meta-language of first-order logic and since the meta-language of first-order logic is included in the metametalanguage of metaphysics, science is also dependent on the metametalanguage of metaphysics.
Hence, the cogency of Quinean naturalism’s account of our best scientific theories must explain how science is dependent on the metametalanguage of metaphysics.

Keywords:

a priori

ley del medio excluido

ley de no contradicción

metametafísica

naturalismo quineano

Toumas Tahko

a priori

law of excluded middle

law of non-contradiction

metametaphysics

Quinean naturalism

Toumas Tahko

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