SYSU Zhuhai Campus Philosophy Forum (IX)——A Coherence Argument for Monism

Organizer: Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai)，Sun Yat-sen University

Topic: A Coherence Argument for Monism

Speaker: Itay Shani (Kyung Hee University)

Moderator: Jianhong CHEN (Professor, Sun Yat-sen University)

Time: May. 5th., 3:00pm

Venue: R106, No.13 Administrative Building of Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai), SYSU

Abstract: To "cohere" is to "stick together" (from the Latin root: co-haerere), and coherence designates the quality of sticking together. In its most general sense, then, coherence is a holistic feature of an ensemble of constitutive subcomponents which corresponds to the fact that elements of the ensemble exhibit unity and congruence in virtue of adhering to each other. In the present lecture, I argue that a proper understanding of the nature of coherence, and of the role played by coherence considerations in rendering the structure of experience intelligible, sustain a powerful argument in favor of the metaphysical position known as monism, and against dualism or, indeed, any substantive form of metaphysical pluralism.