From Atoms to Complexes: The Metaphysics of Relations

This dissertation defends the existence of relations and their role in constructing structural universals—complex, multiply-located properties. Chapter 1 reviews historical debates on the existence of relations, advocates for a truth-making approach to ontology, and argues that relations are required as truth-makers for relational claims. Chapter 2 examines two competing theories of relations—Positionalism and Anti-Positionalism—as potential truth-makers for relational claims, showing that Positionalism provides a more satisfactory account. Chapter 3 critiques contemporary theories of structural universals and demonstrates how Positionalist relations overcome these critiques by abstracting structural universals from complex states of affairs constructed through Positionalist relations. Chapter 4 defends the abstract nature of Positionalist relations, showing that Positionalism possesses greater explanatory power in addressing the problems of multiple realizability, order, and converse relations.