Metaphysics

de-stroyed or in-de(con)structible

Richard Sylvan

pp. 167-176

in: Keith Lehrer, Johann C. Marek (eds), Austrian philosophy past and present, Deventer, Kluwer, 1997

Abstract

Toward metaphysics a curious love-hate, attraction-antagonism relationship is displayed in Europe. On the one side of the dialectic, most of the main and extravagant metaphysical edifices on display are European. The rest of this world, excepting perhaps India, may have supplied a rich variety of mythical stories, but has built few or no elaborate metaphysical systems. On the other side, most of the most trenchant criticisms of metaphysics also emanate from Europe, especially from Austria. Indeed a marked hostility to metaphysics is a conspicuous trait of Austrian philosophy, and one notable component of what separates Austrian philosophy from German philosophy. German philosophy tries to build grand (but ultimately substandard) metaphysical edifices; Austrian philosophy tries (without evident success) to demolish them.