Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology Books

Book SynopsisThe first collection of essays dedicated to Roman linguistic naturalism, a major but under-studied area of Roman linguistic and philosophical thought. Brings together an international group of experts to consider naturalism in a wide variety of ancient authors including Cicero, Varro, Nigidius, Posidonius, and Dionysius of Halicarnassus.Table of ContentsIntroduction: first thoughts on language and nature Giuseppe Pezzini and Barnaby Taylor; 1. Posidonius' linguistic naturalism and its philosophical pedigree Alexander Verlinsky; 2. Lucilius on Latin spelling, grammar and usage Anna Chahoud; 3. Nigidius Figulus' naturalism: between grammar and philosophy Alessandro Garcea; 4. Naturalism in morphology: Varro on derivation and inflection Wolfgang D. C. De Melo; 5. What's Hecuba to him? Varro on the natural kinship of things and of words David Blank; 6. Linguistic naturalism in Cicero's Academica Tobias Reinhardt; 7. Linguistic naturalism and natural style: from Varro and Cicero to Dionysius of Halicarnassus Casper C. de Jonge; 8. Natural law and natural language in the first century BCE James Zetzel.

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Book SynopsisNow revised and containing three new chapters, this book provides a clear and accessible introduction to epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. It discusses some of the main theories of justification, including foundationalism, coherentism, reliabilism, and virtue epistemology. Other topics include the Gettier problem, internalism and externalism, skepticism, the problem of epistemic circularity, a priori knowledge, naturalized epistemology, and the epistemic significance of testimony and disagreement. Intended primarily for students taking their first classes in epistemology, this lucid and well-written text will provide an excellent introduction to anyone interested in knowing more about this important area of philosophy.Table of ContentsPreface to the second edition; 1. Knowledge, truth, and justification; 2. The traditional analysis and the Gettier problem; 3. Foundationalism; 4. The coherence theory of justification; 5. Reliabilism and virtue epistemology; 6. Internalism and externalism about justification; 7. Epistemic circularity; 8. Skepticism; 9. The problem of the criterion; 10. The a priori; 11. Naturalized epistemology; 12. Testimony and disagreement.

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Book SynopsisMany philosophers in the analytic tradition are now convinced that metaphysical questions are worth pursuing, but we still lack a convincing meta-metaphysics and methodology. This essay offers an account of how we should conduct our business qua metaphysicians.Table of ContentsIntroduction PART I: ON THE POSSIBILITY OF METAPHYSICS 1. A Return to Scholastic Metaphysics 2. The Aporetic Method and the Defence of Immodest Metaphysics 3. Evolutionary Biology meets Scholastic Metaphysics PART II: THE TURN TO BIOLOGY 4. Counting biological individuals 5. Evolutionary Biology, Change, and Essentialism 6. Evolutionary Biology, Modality and Explanation 7. Evolutionary Biology and Ethics

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Book SynopsisThe book explores concepts throughout the history of philosophy that suggest the possibility of unconscious thought and lay the foundation for ideas of unconscious thought in modern philosophy and psychoanalysis. The focus is on the workings of unconscious thought and the role it plays in thinking, language, perception, and human identity.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Plotinus: The First Philosopher of the Unconscious 2. The Peripatetics and Unconscious Thought 3. The Active Intellect of Averroes 4. Robert Grosseteste: Imagination and Unconscious Thought 5. Unconscious Thought in the Philosophy of Immanuel Kant 6. Unconscious Thought in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Philosophies 7. Unconscious Thought in Freud 8. Unconscious Thought in Lacan

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Book SynopsisIf the sentence my cat is on the mat' is true how does it get to be true? Sentences are made true by what exists. But what about claims such as There were dinosaurs?' and 2+2=4'. How do they get to be true? Metaphysics: An Introduction uses the idea of truth and the quest for truth-makers to unravel philosophical problems in contemporary metaphysics. From the nature of properties and time to causation and objects, truth becomes a guiding theme to understanding metaphysical concepts and debates. In response to feedback from students and instructors, the Second Edition has been updated with new material in a range of chapters, including discussions of recent research concerning the nature of physical objects, time and modality. Recommended readings have been revised to ensure an improved gender balance while explanations and ideas are easier to follow. Together with a glossary and discussion questions, each chapter concludes with a series of mind maps to help visuaTrade ReviewMetaphysics: An Introduction by Jonathan Tallant is a great contemporary introduction to metaphysics. The book explores, in a very accessible way, composition, time, persistence, and causation. This is metaphysics viewed through the lens of truth-making and, as such, it engages with traditional metaphysical questions in a new, illuminating, and engaging manner. * Kristie Miller, Associate Professor of Philosophy, The University of Sydney, Australia *In Metaphysics: An Introduction, Jonathan Tallant offers an innovative way into a variety of foundational questions about the world around us. The textbook is an exciting and clear introduction to topics in contemporary metaphysics that are the focus of active debate among experts, and Tallant is a first-rate guide to this shifting and difficult terrain. * Daniel Nolan, McMahon-Hank Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, USA *This is an excellent introduction for students of metaphysics and pleasant reading for anyone interested in fundamental philosophical questions. It provides an accurate overviews of the major contemporary debates, and an engaging analysis of their central themes. Tallant treats each topic in a straightforward and appealing way, without ever sacrificing depth. * Giuliano Torrengo, Founder of the Center for Philosophy of Time and Senior Assistant Professor of Language, University of Milan, Italy *Tallant's book is an excellent and wide-ranging introduction to metaphysics for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Difficult concepts are synthesised and explained in a straightforward and accessible manner, without sacrificing depth of discussion. The book's breadth enables the instructor to develop a number of interesting courses that use it as a core text, and its lively writing style promises to capture the interest of students at all levels. * Sam Baron, Lecturer of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia, Australia *Table of Contents1. An Introduction to Truth-making 2. The Special Composition Question 3. Abstract Objects 4. Modality 5. Properties 6. Substratum and Other Theories 7. Time 8. Persistence 9. Causation 10. Truth-making Reconsidered References Index

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