Ontic Indeterminacy: Chinese Madhyamaka in the Contemporary Context

Australasian Journal of Philosophy 98 (3):419-433 (2020)
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Abstract

A number of analytical philosophers have recently endorsed the view that the world itself is indeterminate in some respect. Intriguingly, ideas similar to the view are expressed by thinkers from Chinese Madhyamaka Buddhism, which may shed light on the current discussion of worldly indeterminacy. Using as a basis Chinese Madhyamaka thought, together with Jessica Wilson’s account of indeterminacy, I develop an ontological conception of indeterminacy, termed ontic indeterminacy, which centres on two complementary ideas—conclusive indeterminability and provisional determinability. I show that OI is well-equipped to tackle several issues of worldly indeterminacy. My overarching aim is to present a viable and sustainable perspective on the subject of indeterminacy to enrich analytical philosophers’ insights into the intricate nature of reality.

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Chien-hsing Ho
Academia Sinica, Taiwan

Citations of this work

Can the World Be Indeterminate in All Respects?Chien-Hsing Ho - 2023 - Ergo: An Open Access Journal of Philosophy 9: 584-602.
Tiantai Metaethics.Jason Dockstader - 2022 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 100 (2):215-229.
Causation and Ontic Indeterminacy.Chien-Hsing Ho - 2021 - Res Philosophica 98 (1):43-61.
The First Hundred Years of (The) Australasian Journal of Philosophy.Stewart Candlish - 2022 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 100 (1):3-24.

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References found in this work

Can there be vague objects?Gareth Evans - 1978 - Analysis 38 (4):208.
Quantum metaphysical indeterminacy.Claudio Calosi & Jessica Wilson - 2019 - Philosophical Studies 176 (10):2599–2627.
Can there be vague objects?Gareth Evans - 2004 - In Tim Crane & Katalin Farkas (eds.), Metaphysics: a guide and anthology. New York: Oxford University Press.

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