Newman History and Philosophy of Science Series CHAIRMAN OF EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: M. A. HOSKIN
THEORIES AND THINGS
A Brief Study in Prescnptive Metaphysics
by R.HARRE
Lecturer in Philosophy of Science
Universiry of Oxford
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PRINTED AND MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN BY FLETCHER AND SON LTD., NORWICH, AND THE LEIGHTON-STRAKER BOOKBINDING CO. LTD,, LONDON NoTES In a study of this sort there is no room for the extended discussion of many small topics. Every argument and analysis in the following pages bears upon the main theme. For that reason no index has been included. Ideally this study should be read straight through at a sitting. Such references as there are will be fou nd collected at the end, and they are men tioned in the text by means of the prefix r. Section I I contains brief notes on the philo sophical background to the problems of ex.ist ence claims. Anyone not already familiar with the discussions to which this present study is a contribution should read it first. The books mentioned after the name of each philosopher make up a bibliography of discussions of the ontological metaphysics of science.