Elder defends the much maligned 'ordinary objects' of common sense with rigor and detail against such opponents as reductionists and soriteans. His closing description of the ground floor of ontology would apply to the book itself—'splendidly, marvelously rich.'
Richard Grandy, Department of Philosophy, Rice University
Elder defends the much maligned 'ordinary objects' of common sense with rigor and detail against such opponents as reductionists and soriteans. His closing description of the ground floor of ontology would apply to the book itself–'splendidly, marvelously rich.'
Richard Grandy, Department of Philosophy, Rice University
... deserves a close reading for the subtle arguments designed to rehabilitate the macrophysical domain, particularly his arguments concerning macrophysical causation.
Muhammad Ali Khalidi
Mind
Elder has undertaken a worthwhile project... a challenging, difficult, and rewarding tour through contemporary philosophical metaphysics.
Stephen P. Schwartz
American Journal of Psychology
In his absorbing Real Natures and Familiar Objects, Crawford Elder advances the metaphysical debate over the existence of commonsense objects and the objects, laws, and properties posited by the special sciences. Elder writes clearly and non-technically; his approach is utterly sensible, and his conclusions will be embraced by philosophers and non-philosophers who feel the pull of a robust 'realist' picture of the world and our place in it.
John Heil, Department of Philosophy, Washington University in St. Louis