The Metaphysics Research Lab

In our research lab, we have developed such a theory: the axiomatic theory of abstract objects and relations. In many ways, this theory is like a machine for detecting abstract objects (hence the name ‘research lab’), for among the recursively enumerable theorems, there are statements which assert the existence of the abstract objects mentioned above. Moreover, the properties of these abstracta can be formally derived as consequences of the axioms. The theory systematizes ideas of philosophers such as Plato, Leibniz, Frege, Meinong, and Mally. Our results are collated in the document Principia Metaphysica, which is authored by Edward N. Zalta (Ph.D./Philosophy), a Senior Research Scholar at CSLI. An online version of Principia Metaphysica can be found by following the link to The Theory of Abstract Objects (see below). In published work, the theory has been applied to problems in the philosophy of language, intensional logic, the philosophy of mathematics, and the history of philosophy.

Welcome Message (272K sound file) (.snd, .au, or .wav)
      (Recorded December 1, 1994)

The Theory of Abstract Objects (Summary and Tutorial)

Computational Metaphysics Web Pages (by Branden Fitelson, Paul Oppenheimer, and Edward N. Zalta)

Streaming Video Lecture on Abstract Objects and Computational Metaphysics
Slides For the Lecture (in PDF)
("Steps Toward a Computational Metaphysics", by Edward N. Zalta and Branden Fitelson, Computing and Philosophy Conference, Oregon State University, August 8, 2003)

Ernst Mally Plato and Meinong

Gottlob Frege Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Metaphysics Research Lab Personnel

• Edward N. Zalta, Senior Research Scholar, CSLI, Stanford University.
  Upcoming Invited Talks:
  • Keynote Lecture, Wittgenstein Symposium, Kirchberg, Austria (August 2008).
• Uri Nodelman, Engineering Research Associate, Stanford University
• Colin Allen (Virtual Member), Professor, History and Philosophy of Science, Indiana University
• Branden Fitelson (Virtual Member), Assistant Professor, Philosophy Department, University of California/Berkeley
• Bernard Linsky (Virtual Member), Professor, Philosophy Department, U. of Alberta, CANADA
• Otávio Bueno (Virtual Member), Professor, University of Miami.
• Paul Oppenheimer (Virtual Member), Independent Scholar, Scottsdale, AZ.
• Michael Nelson (Virtual Member), Assistant Professor, Philosophy Department, University of California/Riverside.
• Hannes Leitgeb (Virtual Member), Reader, Philosophy Department, Bristol University

• Johannes Brandl, Associate Professor, Universität Salzburg
• Ondrej Tomala, Ph.D. Candidate, Charles University, Prague (The Czech Republic).
• Gabriel Sandu, Professor, Theoretical Philosophy, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Ju Shier, Professor, Zhongshan University; Director, Institute for Logic and Cognition, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China
• Nie Wenlong, Assistant Professor, Institute for Logic and Cognition, Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University, Guangzhou, China
• Mark Colyvan, Professor, Philosophy, University of Sydney, AUSTRALIA
• Kristë Shtufi, Forschungsassistent, University of Graz, AUSTRIA, and Lecturer at University of Prishtina, Kosovo.
• Sun-Joo Shin (Professor, Philosophy, Yale University)
• Paavo Pylkkanen, Associate Professor, Consciousness Studies Program, Skövde University, SWEDEN
• Anna Bjurman, Doctoral Student, Department of Philosophy, University of Lund, SWEDEN
• Keith Stenning, Professor, Division of Informatics (Human Communication Research Centre), University of Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
• Daniel Nolan, Lecturer, Philosophy Department, University of Nottingham
• Greg Restall, Senior Lecturer, Philosophy Department, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
• Francis Jeffry Pelletier, Professor, Philosophy Department, University of Alberta, CANADA
• Wolfgang Malzkorn, formerly of the Seminar für Logik und Grundlagenforschung, Universität Bonn, GERMANY
• Steven Horst, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, Wesleyan University
• Godehard Link, Professor, Institut für Philosophie, Logik, und Wissenschaftstheorie, Universität München, GERMANY
• Edwin Mares, Senior Lecturer, Philosophy Department, Victoria University of Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
• Karl-Georg Niebergall, Assistant Professor, Institut für Philosophie, Logik, und Wissenschaftstheorie, Universität München, GERMANY
• Peter Menzies, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, Macquarie University, AUSTRALIA
• John Bacon, Associate Professor, School of Philosophy, University of Sydney, AUSTRALIA
• David Chalmers, Professor, Australian National University, AUSTRALIA
• Andrew Irvine, Professor, Philosophy Department, University of British Columbia, CANADA
• Christopher Gauker, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, University of Cincinnati
• Mark Textor, Lecturer, Kings College/London, UK
• Kees van Deemter, Reader, Department of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen, UNITED KINGDOM
• Christopher Menzel, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, Texas A&M University

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