Metaphysics and Epistemology Group (Tuesday - Week 7, MT23)

There are two forms of eliminativism which ought to be distinguished, but which generally are not. One of these, heterogeneity eliminativism, starts from the claim that the extension of a given term is heterogeneous, that is, does not form a natural kind. The other, pluralistic eliminativism, starts from the claim that a term is ‘pluralistic’, demanding different precise definitions, measures, and generalizations in different specialist contexts of use. These two claims are related in various interesting ways, but it is nevertheless worth viewing these as two distinct forms of eliminativism. They make different claims about the relevant terms, face different objections, and rely on different views about the requirements of good taxonomy.