David Armstrong

Abstract

David (D. M.) Armstrong is one of Australia’s greatest philosophers. His chief philosophical achievement has been the development of a core metaphysical programme, embracing the topics of universals, laws, modality and facts: a naturalistic metaphysics, consistent with a scientific view of the natural world. In this book Stephen Mumford offers an introduction to the full range of Armstrong’s thought. Beginning with a discussion of Armstong’s naturalism, his most general commitment, and his realism about universals, Mumford then examines Armstrong's theories of laws, modality and dispositions, which make up the basics of his core theory. With this in place, Mumford explores his ideas on perception, mind and belief before returning to metaphysics in the final chapters, looking at truth and the new view of instantiation. The book is a dispassionate, fair and unbiased account of Armstrong’s thought. Although Armstong’s is a body of work that Mumford regards highly and of real significance, he nevertheless highlights areas of weakness and issues about which there is room for further debate.