Artefacts
摘要
Chapter 15 examines the metaphysical status of artefacts, focusing on their nature, existence, and distinction from natural entities. Artefacts are defined as objects intentionally created or modified by agents for specific purposes and functions. Traditional metaphysics often contrasts artificial with natural entities, attributing to natural objects an inherent principle of movement and persistence; artefacts, on the contrary, are considered reliant on external causes and human intentions. However, these distinctions are contentious, particularly when addressing hybrid cases such as non-intentionally produced objects or modified natural objects. The chapter also explores two main ontological perspectives on artefacts. Eliminativists argue that artefacts do not exist, citing arguments based on arbitrariness, vagueness, causal overdetermination, as well as the lack of clear identity and persistence criteria. This perspective often leads to scepticism about common-sense objects, admitting only entities recognized by scientific theories. In contrast, realist approaches maintain that artefacts are real and form a continuum with natural entities. Some realist accounts adopt hylomorphic theories, asserting that artefacts are substances shaped by human intentionality.