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Ontology

paragraphtopic
Introductory notes
para1the questions to be addressed
para2existence questions form a logical hierarchy
para3digression to permit clarification of para2
para4clarification of para2
para5factorisation of existence questions
para6defencelessness of ultimate criteria
para7judging ontological criteria against ordinary language
para8criteria and consequences of ontological commitment
para9dispensing with 'inflated' ontologies
para10range of ontologies compatible with ordinary language
para11dual standard for the use of the verbs 'to exist' and 'to be'
para12separate the predicative use of 'to be' from its bald existential use

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