Metaphysics and Epistemology Group (Tuesday - Week 3, MT24)

Abstract: According to Kit Fine some truths are grounded but they are not grounded in anything. These are zero-grounded truths. Some have used the idea of zero-grounding to account for the grounds of identity truths, truths of iterated grounding, negative existentials, arithmetical truths, and necessary truths. In this paper we give two arguments to the effect that zero-grounding is an unintelligible idea, and then we show that, as should be expected with an unintelligible idea, the proposed elucidations of the notion of zero-grounding fail. This is joint work with Tien-Chun Lo (Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Alexander Skyles (Rutgers).