This volume is a comprehensive survey of contemporary thought on a wide range of issues and provides students with the basic background to current debates in metaphysics.

Stephen Laurence is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, England and is co-editor with Eric Margolis of Concepts: Core Readings (1998).

Cynthia Macdonald is Professor at the University of Canterbury at Christchurch, New Zealand. She is co-author with Graham Macdonald of Philosophy of Psychology (Blackwell Publishers, 1995) and Connectionism (Blackwell Publishers, 1995).