The future of ontology after ontological relativity

"You cannot step into the same river twice for different and again different waters flow." This fragment of Heraclitus demonstrates the problem of identity. Order and regularity were explained by Heraclitus as a result of the Logos, the cosmic ordering principle. Hence, changes are measurable. The problem of identity that is present within Heraclitus' statement is that the river is a succession of entities, each a new river, yet still river-like. Heraclitus had an ontological commitment to the Logos, the ordering principle, and hence escaped total chaos and confusion. Ontological commitments are very important. Ontological commitment influences one's entire philosophy. Ontological commitment influences one's entire philosophy. This paper will examine the ontological commitment of W. V. Quine. His view of ontological commitment changed throughout his career, unfolding in three distinct periods. I will examine the essays "On What There Is" and "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" as examples of his early period; Word and Object is the example used to illustrate the second; Web of Belief and Ontological Relativity for the third. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).