I don’t particularly see why the metaphysics bucket is convenient, though.
Unless you are a cladist, ‘reptile’ is a bucket which contains crocodiles, lizards, and turtles, but does not contain birds and mammals. The word is still sometimes useful for communication.
Is there any point in discussing metaphysics as anything other than a cultural phenomenon among philosophers?
It depends on your goals. I do not generally recommend it, however.
My claim was not about the general lack of utility of buckets. Briefly, the reptile bucket is useful because reptiles are similar to one another, and thus having a way to refer to them all is handy. There is apparently no such justification for “metaphysics”, except in the sense that its contents are related by history. But this clearly isn’t the use you want to make of this bucket.
Well then the term reptile is somewhat deceptive in evolutionary biology, and based more on some consensus about appearance. Fine. Whatever. The point is that the word metaphysics isn’t evocative in that way or any way, except in the context of its historical usage. As such, it cannot inform us in any way about any subject that isn’t the phenomenon of its acceptance as a field, and is not even a useful subject heading, being a hodgepodge. We can choose whether to continue to use it, and I don’t see why we should.
Within the field of philosophy, the usage is a fairly normal term, much like ‘reptile’ or ‘sex’ are normal terms for most people. Much of my vocabulary comes from that field and I am most comfortable using its terms. ‘Metaphysics’ is one of many problematic terms which are evocative to me, because I understand how these terms are used. Asking someone who studies philosophy to stop using ‘metaphysics’ is like asking someone who studies biology to stop using ‘species’.
However, it is your prerogative to use whatever terms you prefer. I am sure that we are both trying to be pragmatic.
Unless you are a cladist, ‘reptile’ is a bucket which contains crocodiles, lizards, and turtles, but does not contain birds and mammals. The word is still sometimes useful for communication.
It depends on your goals. I do not generally recommend it, however.
My claim was not about the general lack of utility of buckets. Briefly, the reptile bucket is useful because reptiles are similar to one another, and thus having a way to refer to them all is handy. There is apparently no such justification for “metaphysics”, except in the sense that its contents are related by history. But this clearly isn’t the use you want to make of this bucket.
The word ‘similar’ is often frustratingly vague. However, crocodiles and birds share a more recent common ancestor than crocodiles and turtles.
The word is nonetheless used. I do agree with you that it is frustrating that the word’s usage is historically determined.
Well then the term reptile is somewhat deceptive in evolutionary biology, and based more on some consensus about appearance. Fine. Whatever. The point is that the word metaphysics isn’t evocative in that way or any way, except in the context of its historical usage. As such, it cannot inform us in any way about any subject that isn’t the phenomenon of its acceptance as a field, and is not even a useful subject heading, being a hodgepodge. We can choose whether to continue to use it, and I don’t see why we should.
Within the field of philosophy, the usage is a fairly normal term, much like ‘reptile’ or ‘sex’ are normal terms for most people. Much of my vocabulary comes from that field and I am most comfortable using its terms. ‘Metaphysics’ is one of many problematic terms which are evocative to me, because I understand how these terms are used. Asking someone who studies philosophy to stop using ‘metaphysics’ is like asking someone who studies biology to stop using ‘species’.
However, it is your prerogative to use whatever terms you prefer. I am sure that we are both trying to be pragmatic.