Ground

TLDR

The essay discusses the metaphysical notion of ground, which links metaphysics to explanation, serves as a common factor in diverse questions, structures explanations of how phenomena are built from fundamentals, yet resists illumination by familiar explanatory models. The author aims to give an opinionated synopsis of ground, focusing on its distinctive explanatory and metaphysical aspects to characterize its logic and features. The essay explores meta‑questions about what grounds ground and addresses recent skeptical challenges.

Abstract

Abstract This essay focuses on a recently prominent notion of (metaphysical) ground which is distinctive for how it links metaphysics to explanation. Ground is supposed to serve both as the common factor in diverse in virtue of questions as well as the structuring relation in the project of explaining how some phenomena are “built” from more fundamental phenomena. My aim is to provide an opinionated synopsis of this notion of ground without engaging with others. Ground, so understood, generally resists illumination by appeal to more familiar models of explanation. Nevertheless, its distinctive explanatory and metaphysical aspects guide us on characterizing its explanatory logic and its metaphysical features. Some issues concerning the meta‐question of what (if anything) grounds ground are explored, as well as some recent skeptical challenges to ground.