Title: Carnap on Metaphysics, Before and After 1932: The Importance of Tolerance

Abstract: Late in 1932, Carnap accepts the Principle of Tolerance. This makes a fundamental difference to his philosophy, although that is not always readily apparent in his writings. The present paper illustrates this claim by examining his opposition to metaphysics. It discusses his pre-1932 rejection of metaphysics and emphasizes the idea that that rejection is based on assumptions which might themselves be thought of as metaphysical. Accepting the Principle of Tolerance enables Carnap to avoid those assumptions, but it also undercuts the basis of Carnap’s earlier opposition to metaphysics. The rest of the paper considers how, and to what extent, the post-1932 Carnap can give a rationale for opposing metaphysics.

Please note that this is an online talk on Microsoft Teams which will also be live-streamed in G03 (Edgecliffe).