GROUND AND RELATIVE FUNDAMENTALITY By

Ground is a distinctively metaphysical notion of explanation. Often expressed with the phrase ‘in virtue of’, ground has recently found some popularity among metaphysicians. In this dissertation I argue that the notion is well understood and useful, but not primitive. I argue that we should analyze ground partly in terms of relative fundamentality. This analyzed notion of ground can not only do the work that a primitive notion can, but it is better equipped to respond to a number of objections and challenges that the notion faces. The dissertation ends by demonstrating this is the case and responding to objections