Howard Kelly
Thesis
A Metaphysical Analysis of Readiness-to-Hand
Supervisors
Joel Smith and Sean Crawford
Research interests
Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, History of Philosophy, Phenomenology
Research area
My research is ordered towards the accommodation of a specific aspect of Heideggerian phenomenology, viz. the 'mode of being of equipment': readiness-to-hand (Zuhandenheit), within a broadly Aristotelian metaphysical framework. In attempting to achieve this, I seek to answer the following questions. Firstly, to what are we ontologically committed if we recognise a place for readiness-to-hand within an ontology? Secondly, to what extent does Heidegger articulate a coherent metaphysical position on readiness-to-hand? Thirdly, what light can a metaphysical analysis of readiness-to-hand shed on issues within contemporary work on affordances, i.e. opportunities for action? I defend the thesis that Heidegger's metaphysical position may be regarded as a development of the Aristotelian view advocated by Franz Brentano. In addition, I assess the relationship between the Aristotelian position attributed to Heidegger and contemporary discussions of modes of being in analytic philosophy; and I consider the ontological implications of views which involve such notions. Finally, the viability of a metaphysical account of affordances which relies upon the notion of a 'mode of being' is determined.
Teaching
- Phenomenology (2011-2012)
- 20th Century Analytical Philosophy (2011-2012)