Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology Books

1919 products


  • Otherworld Journeys

    Oxford University Press Otherworld Journeys

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisCarol Zaleski''s book is the first objective, comprehensive survey of the mass of evidence surrounding near-death experiences: the extraordinary visions and ecstatic feelings reported by people who have survived a close brush with death. Comparing recent near-death narratives with those of a much earlier period she finds both profound similarities and striking contrasts.Trade Review' An extremely interesting piece of work, and one that offers many shrewd insights.' New York Times'one of those books which ... has elegance and readability in direct proportion to its historical and anthropological learning ... whether one is wired to accept a religious or a hardcore naturalist interpretation of the constancy of such intimations, it is good to know they may be there.' City Limits

    15 in stock

    £16.19

  • The Power of Imagination

    Penguin Putnam Inc The Power of Imagination

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £18.70

  • Riddles of Existence

    Oxford University Press Riddles of Existence

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisRiddles of Existence makes metaphysics genuinely accessible, even fun. Its lively, informal style brings the riddles to life and shows how stimulating they can be to think about. No philosophical background is required to enjoy this book. It is ideal for beginning students. Anyone wanting to think about life''s most profound questions will find Riddles of Existence provocative and entertaining.This new edition is updated throughout, and features two extra, specially written chapters: one on metaphysical questions to do with morality, and the other on questions about the nature of metaphysics itself.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Personal Identity ; 2. Fatalism ; 3. Time ; 4. God ; 5. Why Not Nothing? ; 6. Free Will and Determinism ; 7. Constitution ; 8. Universals ; 9. Possibility and Necessity ; 10. The Metaphysics of Ethics ; 11. What is Metaphysics? ; 12. Metametaphysics ; Acknowledgements ; Index

    Out of stock

    £11.39

  • God and Philosophy

    Yale University Press God and Philosophy

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn this work, the Catholic philosopher Etienne Gilson deals with one of the most important and perplexing metaphysical problems: the relation between our notion of God and demonstrations of his existence.Trade Review"[I] commend to another generation of seekers and students this deeply earnest and yet wistfully gentle little essay on the most important (and often, at least nowadays, the most neglected) of all metaphysical—and existential—questions. . . . The historical sweep is breathtaking, the one-liners arresting, and the style, both intellectual and literary, altogether engaging."—Jaroslav Pelikan, from the foreword

    1 in stock

    £12.34

  • Love

    Yale University Press Love

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisLove - unconditional, selfless, unchanging, sincere, and totally accepting - is worshipped today as the West's only universal religion. To challenge it is one of our few remaining taboos. The author does just that, dissecting our resilient ruling ideas of love and showing how they are the product of a long and powerful cultural heritage.Trade Review"May could just have achieved the seemingly impossible and produced a truly original philosophy of love... May is able to draw out what is true in each age’s perception of love, discard what is misleading, and synthesize the result into the most persuasive account of love’s nature I have ever read."—Financial Times"Rich, provocative and illuminating."—Jane O’Grady, Times Higher Education"Intellectually engaging . . . Provocative."—Charlotte Allen, The Wall Street Journal"May could just have achieved the seemingly impossible and produced a truly original philosophy of love... May is able to draw out what is true in each age’s perception of love, discard what is misleading, and synthesise the result into the most persuasive account of love’s nature I have ever read."—Financial Times"It’s a big question: what is love? May plunders Western poetry, philosophy and psychology to find answers, tracing our understanding from religious to romantic to ossified. Thought-provoking stuff."—Holly Kyte, Sunday Telegraph"This book deserves to rank with Denis de Rougemont’s classic Love in the Western World. Readers…will gain much from May’s well-crafted study."—Library Journal"[May’s] discussion…provides a coherent narrative that is aided by his illustrative writing."—Publishers Weekly"Almost intimidatingly erudite and wide-ranging… May asks why attitudes to love haven’t changed over the centuries when those things associated with it, like sex and marriage, have changed enormously. We still expect too much from it, a hangover from Romanticism, and must abandon the old opposites (love as self-sacrificing, love as self-pleasing) for a new theory of love."—Lesley McDowell, Sunday Herald "a challenging and thought-provoking study" — Good Book Guide"A powerfully demystifying critique . . . that aims to show what love can and cannot mean in our lives."—John Gray'A beautifully written and fascinating account of the cultural history of love. Simon May gives a vindication of love that is both deeply insightful and inspiring, and, whether you believe that God is love or that Love is god, you will find your portrait in this book and rejoice in it.' - Roger Scruton'May's enquiry into the nature of love is an amazing tour de force: surprising, provocative, refreshing and instructive by turns, it surpasses everything hitherto written on this subject in its scope and ambition.' - A.C. Grayling 'Simon May's Love is that rarest of achievements: scholarship as inspired illumination. Fluent, witty, humane, May explores Western concepts of love from the Torah to Romanticism and on to the “fascinating paradox” that the liberation of sex and marriage in our day coexists with retrograde, and at times destructive, notions of love. May offers a corrective, and the reasoning that takes us there is an utterly riveting adventure.' -Wendy Steiner, author of The Real Real Thing: The Model in the Mirror of Art

    2 in stock

    £16.14

  • Nobility of Spirit

    Yale University Press Nobility of Spirit

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisArgues that 'nobility of spirit' is the quintessence of a civilized world. This book identifies nobility of spirit in the life and work of Spinoza and of Thomas Mann; explores the quest for the good society in our own times; and addresses the pursuit of truth and freedom that engaged figures as disparate as Socrates and Leone Ginzburg.Trade Review“Rob Riemen has written a rare and much needed book, one which we appreciate not because we necessarily agree with its views, but for its commitment to ideas and its passion for imagination. It is a timely reminder of how imaginative knowledge can become a way of questioning, connecting to and changing the world as well as ourselves.”—Azar Nafisi -- Azar Nafisi“The author’s vast cultural knowledge, his firm commitment to liberal ideals and the agility of his pen make these essays an invaluable guide to orient us amid the great political and cultural problems—and the ideological confusions—of the world in which we live.”—Mario Vargas Llosa -- Mario Vargas Llosa“Rob Riemen's essays spring from a deep and firm conviction—they are like water from artesian wells and this is, I think, the main reason why they are so important and refreshing.”—Adam Zagajewski -- Adam Zagajewski“Written with such elegance, erudition and skill, a singular reflection of fundamental problems, virtues and vices, of our time.”—Ivan Klima -- Ivan Klima"Mr. Riemen's Nobility of Spirit is intended as a meditation on the forces that threaten civilization and, no less important, on the forces that are desperately needed to sustain it."—Darrin M. McMahon, Wall Street Journal -- Darrin M. McMahon * Wall Street Journal *"Agree or disagree with Riemen's profound, ambitious and high-minded plea, you will be thinking about his words for a long time. It's been ages since a work of non-fiction moved us this way. Read it."—The Elegant Variation (Blog) * The Elegant Variation (Blog) *"Riemen's study is beautifully crafted and luminously intelligent."—Richard Wolin, Dissent -- Richard Wolin * Dissent *"With beautiful clarity, Rob Riemen renders complex ideas simple and accessible to every earnest reader. His work is the embodiment of civilization: what it has sometimes briefly been, and what it can be again."—Cynthia Ozick -- Cynthia Ozick

    15 in stock

    £13.13

  • On Evil

    Yale University Press On Evil

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Courage to Be

    Yale University Press The Courage to Be

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDescribes the dilemma of modern man and points a way to the conquest of the problem of anxiety. This title includes a foreword that situates the book within the theological conversation from which it emerged and conveys its continued relevance in the present century.Trade Review“The brilliance, the wealth of illustration, and the aptness of personal application . . . make the reading of these chapters an exciting experience.”—W. Norman Pittenger, New York Times Book Review“A lucid and arresting book.”—Frances Witherspoon, New York Herald Tribune“Paul Tillich is the most profound theologian of post-fundamentalist religion. As Harvey Cox makes clear in his new introduction, this book is a classic awaiting re-discovery by a new generation.”—Tom F. Driver, Paul J. Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary in New York“The Courage to Be changed my life. It also profoundly impacted the lives of many others from my generation. Now Harvey Cox’s fresh introduction helps to open up this powerful reading experience to the current generation.”—Robert N. Bellah, University of California, Berkeley“The essential character of courage, for Tillich, is ‘in spite of.’ We must go on striving for freedom, justice, and our faith in spite of oppositions. In this age of late capitalism, globalization, and terrorism, we all need the virtue of courage, as Harvey Cox admirably argues in the foreword.”—Nimi Wariboko, Andover Newton Theological School“Tillich struggled with the existential question how we may overcome the demoralizing effects, on the individual and society, of our Age of Anxiety. In this, his most popular book, Tillich gives us his deeply thought answers, and Harvey Cox provides a helpful new introduction.”—Gerald Holton, Harvard University

    15 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time Oxford Handbooks

    Oxford University Press The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time Oxford Handbooks

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive book on the philosophy of time. Leading philosophers discuss the metaphysics of time, our experience and representation of time, the role of time in ethics and action, and philosophical issues in the sciences of time, especially quantum mechanics and relativity theory.Table of ContentsI: TIME AND METAPHYSICS; II: THE DIRECTION OF TIME; III: TIME, ETHICS, AND EXPERIENCE; IV: TIME IN CLASSICAL AND RELATIVISTIC PHYSICS; V: TIME IN A QUANTUM WORLD

    15 in stock

    £33.24

  • Theory of Identities

    Columbia University Press Theory of Identities

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisA new theory that reconciles scientific and philosophical ideas of the self.Trade ReviewTheory of Identities constitutes the most illustrative proof that 'non-philosophy is a synthesis of quantum theory and Marxism.' It is a testimony of the dense complexity of Laruelle's genius combining methodologically uncompromising scientific rigor and transgressiveness of a mystic's glance into what most of us would choose to avert our eyes from: the point where the comfort of neurosis ceases to exist, which is also the place where neurosis reestablishes itself. -- Katarina Kolozova, author of Cut of the Real: Subjectivity in Poststructuralist Philosophy Aiming to provide a new practice of philosophy by engaging with scientific concepts in a philosophical way, Theory of Identities opens up a space for truly interdisciplinary projects to develop. Rather than paying mere lip service to interdisciplinarity, Laruelle practices it here in the midst of profound reflections on identity, science, and ethics. -- Anthony Paul Smith, author of Francois Laruelle's Principles of Non-Philosophy: A Critical Introduction and Guide This excellent translation of Theory of Identities will be invaluable to anyone who wants to understand Laruelle's nonstandard epistemology. -- John Mullarkey, coeditor of Laruelle and Non-PhilosophyTable of ContentsPreface to the English Edition: Retrospection (2014) Preface to the French Edition (1992) Introduction: Science, Identity, Fractality Part 1: The Essence of Science 1. Science: A Nonepistemological Description 2. Non-philosophy: A Scientific Reform of the Understanding Part 2: Theory of Generalized Fractality 3. Of Determination-in-the-Last-Instance as Destruction of the Principle of Sufficient Determination 4. The Concepts of Generalized Fractality and Chaos Part 3: Principles of an Artificial Philosophy 5. Unified Theory of Thought 6. The Concept of an Artificial Philosophy 7. The Fractal Modeling of Philosophy Notes Index

    Out of stock

    £37.74

  • Thus Spoke Zarathustra

    Penguin Books Ltd Thus Spoke Zarathustra

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFriedrich Nietzsche''s most accessible and influential philosophical work, misquoted, misrepresented, brilliantly original and enormously influentialNietzsche was one of the most revolutionary and subversive thinkers in Western philosophy, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra remains his most famous and influential work. It describes how the ancient Persian prophet Zarathustra descends from his solitude in the mountains to tell the world that God is dead and that the Superman, the human embodiment of divinity, is his successor. Nietzsche''s utterance ''God is dead'', his insistence that the meaning of life is to be found in purely human terms, and his doctrine of the Superman and the will to power were all later seized upon and unrecognisably twisted by, among others, Nazi intellectuals. With blazing intensity and poetic brilliance, Nietzsche argues that the meaning of existence is not to be found in religious pieties or meek submission to authority, but in an all-powerful life force: passionate, chaotic and free.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust theseries to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-datetranslations by award-winning translators.Table of ContentsPart 1 Zarathustra's discourses: of the three metamorphoses; of the chairs of virtue; of the afterworldsmen; of the despisers of the body; of joys and passions; of the pale criminal; of reading and writing; of the tree on the mountainside; of the preachers of death; of war and warriors; of the new idol; of the flies of the market-place; of chastity; of the friend; of the thousand and one goals; of love of one's neighbour; of the way of the creator; of old and young women; of the Adder's bite; of marriage and children; of voluntary death; of the bestowing virtue. Part 2: the child with the mirror; on the blissful islands; of the compassionate; of the priests; of the virtuous; of the rabble; of the tarantulas; of the famous philosophers; of the night song; the dance song; the funeral song; of self-overcoming; of the sublime men; of the land of culture; of immaculate perception; of scholars; of poets; of great events; the prophet; of redemption; of manly prudence; the stillest hour. Part 3: the wanderer; of the vision and the riddle; of involuntary bliss; before sunrise; of the virtue that makes small; on the mount of olives; of passing by; of the apostates; the home-coming; of the three evil things; of the spirit of gravity; of old and new law-tables; the convalescent; of the great longing; the second dance song; the seven seals (or - the song of Yes and Amen). Part 4: the honey offering; the cry of distress; conversation with the kings; the leech; the sorcerer; retired from service; the ugliest man; the voluntary beggar; the shadow; at noontide; the greeting; the last supper; of the higher man; the song of melancholy; of science; among the daughters of the desert; the awakening; the ass festival; the intoxicated song; the sign.

    15 in stock

    £9.49

  • Verlag Vittorio Klostermann Augustinus Und Die Phanomenologische Frage Nach

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £21.85

  • Ultimate Questions

    Princeton University Press Ultimate Questions

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow to live meaningfully in the face of the unknowableWe human beings had no say in existingwe just opened our eyes and found ourselves here. We have a fundamental need to understand who we are and the world we live in. Reason takes us a long way, but mystery remains. When our minds and senses are baffled, faith can seem justifiedbut faith is not knowledge. In Ultimate Questions, acclaimed philosopher Bryan Magee provocatively argues that we have no way of fathoming our own natures or finding definitive answers to the big questions we all face.With eloquence and grace, Magee urges us to be the mapmakers of what is intelligible, and to identify the boundaries of meaningfulness. He traces this tradition of thought to his chief philosophical mentorsLocke, Hume, Kant, and Schopenhauerand shows why this approach to the enigma of existence can enrich our lives and transform our understanding of the human predicament. As Magee puts it, There is a world of difference between being lost in the daylight and being lost in the dark.The crowning achievement to a distinguished philosophical career, Ultimate Questions is a deeply personal meditation on the meaning of life and the ways we should live and face death.Trade Review"Magee's writing always makes very easy reading."--Anthony Kenny, Standpoint "[Magee] writes with relaxed fluency."--Rowan Williams, New Statesman "[Bryan Magee] writes with grace and offers a thoughtful summation of human experience."--Library Journal "Living and dying in a world we accept we do not understand may not sound easy, but if Magee is any guide, the reward of doing so is endless and profound wonder."--Julian Baggini, Independent "Magee is refreshingly comfortable acknowledging the uncanniness of human experience, including the aesthetic as well as the ethical... His case for acknowledging the extent of what we do not know is a useful corrective to 'jolly hockey sticks' humanism as well as religious dogma."--Dolan Cummings, Spiked "[Ultimate Questions] is ... a deeply personal and elegant summary of [Magee's] own individual journey to and through profound philosophical questions."--ChoiceTable of Contents1 Time and Space 1 2 Finding Our Bearings 17 3 The Human Predicament 33 4 Can Experience Be Understood? 59 5 Where Such Ideas Come From 69 6 Personal Reflections 87 7 Our Predicament Summarized 105 Index 129

    7 in stock

    £12.59

  • Introduction to Metaphysics

    Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Introduction to Metaphysics

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review"With its signal distinction between 'intuition' and 'analysis' and its exploration of the different levels of Duration (Bergson's term for Heraclitean flux), An Introduction to Metaphysics has had a significant impact on subsequent twentieth century thought. The arts, from post-impressionist painting to the stream of consciousness novel, and philosophies as diverse as pragmatism, process philosophy, and existentialism bear its imprint." -- Peter A Y Gunter, University of North Texas.

    Out of stock

    £23.39

  • Verlag Vittorio Klostermann Heideggers Philosophie Der Medialitat

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £31.50

  • State University Press of New York (SUNY) Nature and Logos A Whiteheadian Key to

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £22.96

  • Beyond Mechanism

    Lexington Books Beyond Mechanism

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisIt has been said that new discoveries and developments in the human, social, and natural sciences hang in the air (Bowler, 1983; 2008) prior to their consummation. While neo-Darwinist biology has been powerfully served by its mechanistic metaphysic and a reductionist methodology in which living organisms are considered machines, many of the chapters in this volume place this paradigm into question. Pairing scientists and philosophers together, this volume explores what might be termed the New Frontiers of biology, namely contemporary areas of research that appear to call an updating, a supplementation, or a relaxation of some of the main tenets of the Modern Synthesis. Such areas of investigation include: Emergence Theory, Systems Biology, Biosemiotics, Homeostasis, Symbiogenesis, Niche Construction, the Theory of Organic Selection (also known as the Baldwin Effect), Self-Organization and Teleodynamics, as well as Epigenetics. Most of the chapters in this book offer critical reflectionTrade ReviewA wonderful volume edited by Brian Henning and Adam Scarfe. . . .the book provides many helpful intuitions, and also arguments and explanations, towards the understanding of. . . .life itself. . . .The work by Brian Henning and Adam Scarfe deserves much appreciation. * Biosemiotics *This is a remarkable book that comes at a timely moment, both for theoretical biology and for the philosophy of biology. . . .Beyond Mechanism not only presents a wide repertoire of arguments in defense of a more pluralistic view of evolution, but more importantly, it constitutes a piece of research into a new conceptual framework for biology. . . .Globally speaking, the set of chapters in this book constitute an excellent, profound and very comprehensive criticism of the reductionist traditions in biology, and a fascinating exploration of new alternatives. * Science & Education *Suspicion about the adequacy of mechanistic views of nature has lately become increasingly audible. Contributors to this uniformly excellent body of essays not only amplify this suspicion but they also offer scientifically and intellectually sophisticated alternatives. I consider this book essential reading for anyone seriously interested in understanding biology in its relationship to other fields of scientific and philosophical inquiry. -- John F. Haught, Georgetown UniversityThis collection of papers explores some ways forward for biological science, out of its neo-Darwinian stasis and its mechanistic bonds. Perspectives brought to bear on this project herein range from ontogeny to ecology, entrained by a renewed bio-philosophy, and influenced as well by semiotics and moral considerability. The contributors include biologists and philosophers as well as a theologian. Major influences from the past are Aristotle, Kant, Lloyd Morgan and Whitehead, among more recent ones like Justus Buchler and Waddington. Anti-mechanicism is the overall organizing theme, as suggested by the phenomena of emergence and complexity, and mediated by concepts like self-organization and finality. Bacon’s prohibition against final cause serving as a motivation within scientific models is finally being jettisoned. Special topics include: adaptive state space, agency, anticipation, autonomy, epigenetics, hierarchical structures, interpretation, niche construction, organic selection, performativity, process philosophy, and symbiogenesis. Structural attractors are hinted at in regard to extension outward of relevant environments. There is a bit of internal criticism, as well as a muted demurrer by an observer from the current establishment. I recommend this volume to those willing to consider some of the possibilities emerging now within biological science. -- Stanley N. Salthe, Binghamton UniversityTable of ContentsForeword: Evolution Beyond Newton, Darwin, and Entailing Law Introduction: On a “Life-Blind Spot” in Neo-Darwainism’s Mechanistic Metaphysical Lens Section 1: Complexity, Systems Theory, and Emergence Chapter 1: Complex Systems Dynamics in Evolution and Emergence Processes Chapter 2: Why Emergence Matters Chapter 3: On the Incompatibility of the Neo-Darwinian Hypothesis With Systems-Theoretical Explanations of Biological Development Chapter 4: Process-First Ontology Chapter 5: Ordinal Pluralism as Metaphysics for Biology Section 2: Biosemiotics Chapter 6: Why Do We Need a Semiotic Understanding of Life? Chapter 7: The Irreducibility of Life to Mentality: Biosemiotics or Emergence? Section 3: Homeostasis, Thermodynamics, and Symbiogenesis Chapter 8: Biology’s Second Law: Homeostasis, Purpose and Desire Chapter 9: “Wind at Life’s Back” —Toward a Naturalistic, Whiteheadian Teleology: Symbiogenesis and the Second Law Chapter 10: Of Termites and Men: On the Ontology of Collective Individuals Section 4: The Baldwin Effect, Behavior, and Evolution Chapter 11: The Baldwin Effect in an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis Chapter 12: On the Ramifications of the Theory of Organic Selection for Environmental and Evolutionary Ethics Section 5: Autogen, Teleology, and Teleodynamics Chapter 13: Teleology Versus Mechanism in Biology: Beyond Self-Organization Chapter 14: Teleodynamics: A Neo-Naturalistic Conception of Organismic Teleology Section 6: Epigenetics Chapter 15: Epigenetics: Toward An Inclusive Concept of Evolution Chapter 16: Epigenetics, Soft Inheritance, Mechanistic Metaphysics, and Bioethics Section 7: Organism and Mechanism Chapter 17: From Organicism to Mechanism—and Half-Way Back? Chapter 18: Machines and Organisms: The Rise and Fall of a Conflict About the Contributors

    Out of stock

    £50.40

  • Modal Logic as Metaphysics

    Oxford University Press Modal Logic as Metaphysics

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisAre there such things as merely possible people, who would have lived if our ancestors had acted differently? Are there future people, who have not yet been conceived? Questions like those raise deep issues about both the nature of being and its logical relations with contingency and change. In Modal Logic as Metaphysics, Timothy Williamson argues for positive answers to those questions on the basis of an integrated approach to the issues, applying the technical resources of modal logic to provide structural cores for metaphysical theories. He rejects the search for a metaphysically neutral logic as futile. The book contains detailed historical discussion of how the metaphysical issues emerged in the twentieth century development of quantified modal logic, through the work of such figures as Rudolf Carnap, Ruth Barcan Marcus, Arthur Prior, and Saul Kripke. It proposes higher-order modal logic as a new setting in which to resolve such metaphysical questions scientifically, by the constrTrade ReviewI am inclined to say that Modal Logic as Metaphysics is the greatest ever integrated study of the logic and the metaphysics of modality: it is almost certainly the most comprehensive. [It] is also, in my judgment, the most important book on the metaphysics of modality since On The Plurality of Worlds. * John Divers, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research *a very important addition to the literature... clear, meticulous, and ingenious... This tightly argued book contains a large number of interesting arguments, claims, observations, and comments on a wide variety of topics in modal logic and metaphysics. It reminds us that there is much useful philosophizing to be done beyond an incredulous stare. * Takashi Yagisawa, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *the issues raised by the book are among the most important in current work on modal metaphysics, and I very much hope that all metaphysicians of modality make the effort required to come to terms with its many ideas and arguments. * M. L. Cresswell, The Philosophical Quarterly *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Contingentism and Necessitism ; 2. The Barcan Formula and its Converse: Early Developments ; 3. Possible Worlds Model Theory ; 4. Predication and Modality ; 5. From First-Order to Higher-Order Modal Logic ; 6. Intensional Comprehension Principles and Metaphysics ; 7. Mappings between Contingentist and Necessitist Discourse ; 8. Consequences of necessitism ; Methodological Afterword ; Bibliography ; Index

    15 in stock

    £28.02

  • Metaphysics

    Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Metaphysics

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThis new translation of Aristotle's Metaphysics in its entirety is a model of accuracy and consistency, presented with a wealth of annotation and commentary. Sequentially numbered endnotes provide the information most needed at each juncture, while a detailed Index of Terms guides the reader to places where focused discussion of key notions occurs. An illuminating general Introduction describes the book that lies ahead, explaining what it is about, what it is trying to do, how it goes about doing it, and what sort of audience it presupposes.Trade Review"C. D. C. Reeve adds to his already remarkable series of translations of Plato and Aristotle another stellar accomplishment: a full translation of Aristotle's daunting Metaphysics. He has managed to present Aristotle’s often ungainly Greek into perfectly flowing English syntax without sacrificing the core meaning of the text. Any translator of Aristotle will recognize what an impressive achievement this is. All readers will benefit from the over 1,600 explicative notes accompanying the translation: Reeve has a discerning eye for determining what requires amplification for the purposes of understanding and an admirable gift for saying just as much as needs to be said in order to achieve it." —Christopher Shields, George N. Shuster Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

    Out of stock

    £75.64

  • Pensees and Other Writings Oxford Worlds Classics

    Oxford University Press Pensees and Other Writings Oxford Worlds Classics

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPensées; The Art of Persuasion; Writings on Grace

    2 in stock

    £10.44

  • Plato on Parts and Wholes

    Clarendon Press Plato on Parts and Wholes

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhat is the relation between a whole and its parts? Is a whole identical to its parts, or is there some other relation of composition? These questions are much discussed in modern philosophy; but Plato''s rich discussion of composition has been neglected. Verity Harte provides the first sustained examination of this Platonic discussion and explains its relations to modern debates. She reveals how, in several late works, Plato criticizes the view that a whole is identical to its parts. She then goes on to discuss the intriguing alternative conception of wholes he offers in its place. This book is an invaluable resource both for scholars of Plato and for modern metaphysicians. For scholars of Plato, Harte''s careful textual analysis provides fresh insights into some of his most difficult works. For modern metaphysicians, she illuminates the contemporary debate by placing it within an historical context.Trade Reviewa brilliant interpretation ... an excellent contribution to the discussion of mereorogical problems, ancient and modern. * Vojtech Hladky, Rhizai *Table of Contents1. THE PROBLEM OF COMPOSITION ; 2. COMPOSITION AS IDENTITY IN THE PARMENIDES AND SOPHIST ; 3. A NEW MODEL OF COMPOSITION ; 4. COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE ; 5. PLATO'S METAPHYSICS OF STRUCTURE

    15 in stock

    £52.20

  • Back to the Rough Ground

    University of Notre Dame Press Back to the Rough Ground

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisBack to the Rough Ground is a philosophical investigation of practical knowledge, with major import for professional practice and the ethical life in modern society. Its purpose is to clarify the kind of knowledge that informs good practice in a range of disciplines such as education, psychotherapy, medicine, management, and law. Through reflection on key modern thinkers who have revived cardinal insights of Aristotle, and a sustained engagement with the Philosopher himself, it presents a radical challenge to the scientistic assumptions that have dominated how these professional domains have been conceived, practiced, and institutionalized.Trade Review"[Dunne] makes clear both the contemporary relevance of the Aristotelian conception of practical judgment and the way in which, implicitly and explicitly, it has already played a part in the twentieth-century debates in a way that no one else has done. His detailed exposition of Aristotle is not only admirable . . . but exceptionally well-designed." —Alasdair MacIntyre“Joseph Dunne's achievement in this truly remarkable work is of the highest significance for educational philosophy . . . [Back to the Rough Ground] should be compulsory reading for all those who profess a serious interest in the conceptual complexities . . . of professional knowledge. [Dunne's] arguments are consistently intelligent, clear, and persuasive . . . the overall quality of his writing is simply outstanding.” —Journal of Philosophy of Education“A remarkable exercise in the hermeneutics of reading carried out in a truly Gadamerian spirit. . . . The richness and brilliance of Dunne's twofold reading, which moves back and forth between Aristotle, Gadamer, and Habermas, . . . does indeed succeed in forcefully reviving . . . a usable modern phronetic tradition.” —Quarterly Journal of Speech“An impressively masterful and engaging volume, which will more than repay careful reading and rereading. Its depth of analysis, richness of content, and subtlety of argument offer invaluable resources not only for understanding Aristotle's practical philosophy but also for appreciating why robust accounts of practical reason, though scarce in modernity, are nonetheless indispensable. . . . [A] model of how phronesis [practical wisdom] might be exhibited in our own day." —Modern Theology“[A] very powerful, scholarly, and philosophically acute attempt to rehabilitate an understanding of practical reason. . . . Dunne's absorbing and illuminating book is a necessary acquisition for anyone who is interested in practical philosophy.” —International Journal of Philosophical Studies"...a first-rate piece of work...wide ranging in its scope, yet finely attentive to detail. It covers...a large number of contemporary thinkers, and yet shows scholarly and philosophical finesse in reading Aristotle and recovering the contemporary significance of his views of techne and phronesis." —The Review of Metaphysics

    Out of stock

    £87.55

  • The Metaphysics Penguin Classics

    Penguin Books Ltd The Metaphysics Penguin Classics

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisAristotle's probing inquiry into some of the fundamental problems of philosophy, The Metaphysics is one of the classical Greek foundation-stones of western thought The Metaphysics presents Aristotle's mature rejection of both the Platonic theory that what we perceive is just a pale reflection of reality and the hard-headed view that all processes are ultimately material. He argued instead that the reality or substance of things lies in their concrete forms, and in so doing he probed some of the deepest questions of philosophy: What is existence? How is change possible? And are there certain things that must exist for anything else to exist at all? The seminal notions discussed in The Metaphysics - of 'substance' and associated concepts of matter and form, essence and accident, potentiality and actuality - have had a profound and enduring influence, and laid the foundations for one of the central branches of Western philosophy. In this editionTable of ContentsThe Metaphysics - Aristotle Translated with an Introduction by Hugh Lawson-TancredPrefaceIntroductionTHE METAPHYSICSBook AlphaBook Alpha the LesserBook BetaBook GammaBook DeltaBook EpsilonBook ZetaBook EtaBook ThetaBook IotaBook KappaBook LambdaBook MuBook NuBibliography

    15 in stock

    £11.69

  • Metapatterns  Across Space Time  Mind Across

    Columbia University Press Metapatterns Across Space Time Mind Across

    Book SynopsisIn the interdisciplinary tradition of Buckminster Fuller's work, Gregory Bateson's Mind and Nature, and Fritjof Capra's Tao of Physics, Metapatterns embraces both nature and culture, seeking out the grand-scale patterns that help explain the functioning of our universe.Table of ContentsPrologue: What Are Metapatterns?1. Spheres2. Sheets and Tubes3. Borders4. Binaries5. Centers6. Layers7. Calendars8. Arrows9. Breaks10. CyclesEpilogue: What Are Metapatterns?— RevisitedAcknowledgmentsNotesReferencesIllustration CreditsIndex

    £25.50

  • The Body in Pain

    Oxford University Press Inc The Body in Pain

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisPart philosophical meditation, part cultural critique, this profoundly original work explores the nature of physical suffering. Elaine Scarry bases her study on a wide range of sources: literature and art, medical case histories, documents on torture compiled by Amnesty International, legal transcripts of personal injury trials, and military and strategic writings by such figures as Clausewitz, Churchill, Liddell Hart, and Henry Kissinger. Scarry begins with the fact of pain''s inexpressibility. Not only is physical pain difficult to describe in words, it also actively destroys language, reducing sufferers in the most extreme cases to an inarticulate state of cries and moans. Scarry goes on to analyse the political ramifications of deliberately inflicted pain, specifically in the cases of warfare and torture, and she demonstrates how political regimes use the power of physical pain to attack and break down the sufferer''s sense of self. Finally she turns to examples of artistic and culTrade ReviewA philosophical and beautifully written book. * Brock Bastian, BBC Focus *First published in 1985, the book is not easy reading, but it certainly is fascinating. * Star *

    Out of stock

    £16.64

  • Interpretation of Nietzsches Second Untimely

    Indiana University Press Interpretation of Nietzsches Second Untimely

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHaase and Sinclair render the German into a readable and fluent English. They make potentially clunky and jargon laden passages from the original seem natural, and also do a good job of dealing with the specific difficulties thrown up by this text. In particular, they confront well the problem of distinguishing between Historie, the study of the past, and Geschichte, which is the past in general, as it underpins reality. * Phenomenological Reviews *Table of ContentsTranslators' Introduction A. Preliminary Remarks 1. Remarks Preliminary to the Exercises 2. Title 3. The Appearance of our Endeavours B. Section I. Structure. Preparation and Preview of the Guiding Question. Historiology—Life 4. Historiology—The HistoricalOn the Unhistorical/Supra-historical and the Relation to Both 5. Section I. 1 6. Section I. 2 7. Section I 8. Comparing 9. The Determination of the Essence of the Human Being on the Basis of Animalityand the Dividing Line between Animal and Human Being 10. Nietzsche's Procedure. On the Determination of the Historicalfrom the Perspective of Forgetting and Remembering 11. 'Forgetting'—'Remembering'. The Question of 'Historiology' as the Question of the 'Human Being'. The Course of our Inquiry. One Path among Others. 12. Questions Relating to Section I 13. Forgetting 14. Nietzsche on Forgetting 15. 'Forgetting' and 'Remembering' 16. Historiology and 'the' Human Being 17. 'The Human Being'. 'Culture'. The 'People' and 'Genius' 18. Culture—Non-Culture, Barbarism 19. Human Being and Culture and the People 20. Nietzsche's Concept of 'Culture' 21. The Formally General Notion of 'Culture'. 'Culture' and 'Art' 22. 'The' Human Being and a Culture—a 'People' 23. 'Art' (and Culture) 24. Genius in Schopenhauer 25. The People and Great Individuals 26. Great Individuals as the Goal of 'Culture', of the People, of Humanity 27. 'Worldview' and Philosophy C. Section II. The Three Modes of Historiology 1. Monumental Historiology 28. The Question of the Essence of 'the Historical', i.e. of the Essence of Historiology 29. Section II. Structure (7 Paragraphs) D. Section III 30. The Essence of Antiquarian Historiology 31. Critical Historiology E. Nietzsche's Three Modes of Historiology and the Question of Historical Truth 32. 'Life' 33. 'Life'. Advocates, Defamers of Life 34. Historiology and Worldview 35. How is the Historical Determined? 36. The Belonging Together of the three Modes of Historiology and Historical Truth 37. The Three Modes of Historiology as Modes of the Remembering Relation to the Past 38. Section II F. The Human Being. Historiology and History. Temporality 39. Historiology—the Human Being—History (Temporality) 40. The Historical and the Unhistorical G. 'Historiology'. Historiology and History. Historiology and the Unhistorical 41. 'The Unhistorical' 42. The Un-historical 43. The Un-historical 44. History and Historiology 45. Nietzsche as 'Historian' 46. Historiology and History 47. 'Historiology' 48. History and Historiology H. Section IV 49. On Section IV ff., Hints 50. Section IV 51. Section IV (Paragraphs 1-6) I. Section V 52. Section V 53. Section V, Divided into Five Parts 54. Oversaturation with Historiology and with Knowledge Generally J. Concerning Section V and VI: Truth. 'Justice'. 'Objectivity'. Horizon. 55. Life—'Horizon' 56. Objectivity and 'Horizon' 57. Justice 58. Justice—Truth 59. Life—and Horizon 60. Beings as a Whole—the Human Being 61. 'Truth' and the 'True' 62. The True and Truth 63. Truth and the Human Being 64. Will (Drive) to 'Truth' 65. Nietzsche on the 'Will to Truth' K. On Sections V and VI. Historiology and Science (Truth). (cf. J. Truth. 'Justice'. 'Objectivity'. Horizon) 66. The Human Being—The Gods 67. Why the Primacy of 'Science' in Historiology? 68. 'Positivism' 69. Historiology 70. Historiology and Science 71. The Impact of Historiology on the Past 72. Truth 73. Historiology as Science 74. 'Historiology' and 'Perspective' and 'Objectivity' L. Section VI (Justice and Truth) 75. Section VI 76. Section VI (Paras. 1-7) 77. 'Objectivity' and 'Justice' 78. On the Structure of Section VI as a Whole 79. Nietzsche's Question of a 'Higher Justice' 80. Morality and Metaphysics 81. Justice—Truth—Objectivity—Life 82. Justice as 'Virtue' 83. Justice—Truth 84. Truth and Art (Cognition) 85. On Nietzsche's Treatise "On Truth and Lie in an Extra-Moral Sense" 86. Truth and 'Intellect'—Justice 87. Truth and 'Intellect' 88. Nietzsche's Conception of Truth (Determined from the Ground Up by Western Metaphysics) 89. Justice and Truth 90. Truth, and Science Conditioned by Worldview 91. Truth and Science 92. Historiology Science Truth—Justice M. Nietzsche's Metaphysics 93. Nietzsche's Metaphysics 94. 'Life' in the Two Senses of World and Human Being N. 'Life' 95. Nietzsche's Projection of Beings as a Whole and of the Human Being as 'Life' 96. Disposition 97. Recapitulation According to the Basic Questions 98. Concluding Remark 99. Nietzsche's Early Characterisation of his own Thinkingas 'Inversion of Platonism' 100. 'Life' (ego vivo) 101. The Philosophical Concept 102. On the Critical Meditation 103. Decisive Questioning 104. 'Life' O. The Question of the Human Being: 'Language'. 'Happiness'. Language (cf. 15, 'Forgetting' and 'Remembering') 105. Language as Use and Using-Up of Words 106. Word and Meaning 107. 'Happiness' and Da-Sein 108. 'Happiness' P. The Fundamental Stance of the Second Untimely Meditation 109. The Guiding Demand of the Meditation 110. Guiding Stance 111. Concept Formation in Philosophy and the Sciences 112. 'Life' 113. 'Life' 114. 'Life' 115. Nietzsche's Fundamental Experience of 'life' and Opposition to 'Darwinism' 116. Life 117. 'Life' 118. 'Life' 119. 'Life' 120. 'Life' 121. 'Life' 122. Life and 'adaptation' 123. Life—Health and Truth 124. Life as 'Dasein' 125. 'Life' and 'Death' Q. Animality and Life. Animal—. The 'Living Body'. cf. Lectures of Winter Semester 1929/30 126. Milieu and Environment (World) 127. Soul—Living Body—Body 128. Embodying 129. The Animal has Memory 130. Animal (Questions) 131. Delimitation of the Essence of 'Life' (Animality) 132. Animality R. The Differentiation of Human Being and Animal 133. The Un-historical and the Historical 134. The Unhistorical—(of the Human Being) 135. Animal and Human Being S. 'Privation' 136. What Happens to us as 'Privation' 137. 'Privation'—Inter-ruption T. Structure and Composition of the Second Untimely Meditation 138. On the Advantages and Disadvantages of History for Life Addenda I. Seminar Reports II. Summary by Hermann Heidegger III. Editorial Postscript

    15 in stock

    £40.50

  • Space Time and Spacetime

    University of California Press Space Time and Spacetime

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisDemonstrates the interdependence of science and philosophy by examining a number of crucial problems on the nature of space and time - problems that require for their resolution the resources of philosophy and of physics.

    3 in stock

    £25.50

  • Sufi Metaphysics and Qur'anic Prophets: Ibn

    The Islamic Texts Society Sufi Metaphysics and Qur'anic Prophets: Ibn

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Fusus al-Hikam is acknowledged to be a summary statement of the Sufi metaphysics of the ''Greatest Master'', Ibn ''Arabi (d.1240). It is also recognised that the Fusus is a work of great complexity both in its ideas and its style; and, over the centuries, numerous commentaries have been written on it. Each of the chapters of the Fusus is dedicated to a Qur''anic prophet with whom a particular ''wisdom'' is associated.In Sufi Metaphysics and Quranic Prophets: Ibn ''Arabi''s Thought and Method in the Fusus al-Hikam, Ronald Nettler examines ten chapters from the Fusus which exemplify the ideas, method and perspective of the entire work. Concentrating on a detailed analysis of the text, the author brings out the profound connection and integration of scripture and metaphysics in the world-view of Ibn ''Arabi. Sufi Metaphysics and Qur''anic Prophets serves not only as an explication of Ibn Arabi''s thought in the Fusus, but is also a great aid in the overall understanding of Ibn ''Arabi''s thought.

    2 in stock

    £17.99

  • The Routledge Guidebook to Lockes Essay

    Taylor & Francis The Routledge Guidebook to Lockes Essay

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisJohn Locke is widely acknowledged as the most important figure in the history of English philosophy and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding is his greatest intellectual work, emphasising the importance of experience for the formation of knowledge. The Routledge Guidebook to Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding introduces the major themes of Locke's great book and serves as a companion to this key work, examining: The context of Locke's work and the background to his writing Each part of the text in relation to its goals, meaning and impact The reception of the book when it was first seen by the world The relevance of Locke's work to philosophy today, its legacy and influence With further reading suggested throughout, this text follows Locke's original work closely, making it essential reading for all students of philosophy, and all those wishing to get to grips with this classic work.Table of ContentsSeries Editor Preface Author Preface 1. Introduction: Locke’s Life and Work 2. Ideas 3. Perception 4. Substance 5. Identity 6. Action 7. Language 8. Knowledge Epilogue: The Legacy of Locke's Essay Bibliography Index

    1 in stock

    £29.99

  • The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn his philosophical reflections on the art of lingering, acclaimed cultural theorist Byung-Chul Han argues that the value we attach today to the vita activa is producing a crisis in our sense of time. Our attachment to the vita activa creates an imperative to work which degrades the human being into a labouring animal, an animal laborans. At the same time, the hyperactivity which characterizes our daily routines robs human beings of the capacity to linger and the faculty of contemplation. It therefore becomes impossible to experience time as fulfilling. Drawing on a range of thinkers including Heidegger, Nietzsche and Arendt, Han argues that we can overcome this temporal crisis only by revitalizing the vita contemplativa and relearning the art of lingering. For what distinguishes humans from other animals is the capacity for reflection and contemplation, and when life regains this capacity, this art of lingering, it gains in time and space, in duration and vastness.Trade Review"The Scent of Time describes what may be the condition of Byung-Chul Han's unique international success among philosophers writing today. Starting out with the concept of 'dyschronicity,' he analyzes a new, centrifugal form of time as a premise of existence which no longer allows for marked contours, beginnings, or endings – but to those lively duration we can react with fresh modes of contemplative life." —Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, Stanford UniversityTable of ContentsPreface 1. Non-Time 2. Time without a Scent 3. The Speed of History 4. From the Age of Marching to the Age of Whizzing 5. The Paradox of the Present 6. Fragrant Crystal of Time 7. The Time of the Angel 8. Fragrant Clock: An Short Excursus on Ancient China 9. The Round Dance of the World 10. The Scent of Oak Wood 11. Profound Boredom 12. Vita Contemplativa Notes

    15 in stock

    £36.00

  • Beyond Biocentrism: Rethinking Time, Space,

    BenBella Books Beyond Biocentrism: Rethinking Time, Space,

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis Biocentrism shocked the world with a radical rethinking of the nature of reality. But that was just the beginning. In Beyond Biocentrism, acclaimed biologist Robert Lanza, one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in 2014," and leading astronomer Bob Berman, take the reader on an intellectual thrill-ride as they re-examine everything we thought we knew about life, death, the universe, and the nature of reality itself.The first step is acknowledging that our existing model of reality is looking increasingly creaky in the face of recent scientific discoveries. Science tells us with some precision that the universe is 26.8 percent dark matter, 68.3 percent dark energy, and only 4.9 percent ordinary matter, but must confess that it doesn't really know what dark matter is and knows even less about dark energy. Science is increasingly pointing toward an infinite universe but has no ability to explain what that really means. Concepts such as time, space, and even causality are increasingly being demonstrated as meaningless.All of science is based on information passing through our consciousness but science hasn't the foggiest idea what consciousness is, and it can't explain the linkage between subatomic states and observation by conscious observers. Science describes life as a random occurrence in a dead universe but has no real understanding of how life began or why the universe appears to be exquisitely designed for the emergence of life.The biocentrism theory isn't a rejection of science. Quite the opposite. Biocentrism challenges us to fully accept the implications of the latest scientific findings in fields ranging from plant biology and cosmology to quantum entanglement and consciousness.By listening to what the science is telling us, it becomes increasingly clear that life and consciousness are fundamental to any true understanding of the universe. This forces a fundamental rethinking of everything we thought we knew about life, death, and our place in the universe.Trade Review"Lanza and Berman employ cutting edge science to rediscover ancient truths about life and death and reconceptualize our very notions of reality and consciousness. Beyond Biocentrism is an enlightening and fascinating journey that will forever alter your understanding of your own existence."—Deepak Chopra"This intriguing and provocative book will challenge some of what you know and push you into rethinking your view of science—all the while entertaining you with a fast-paced, exhilarating narrative journey."—David J. Eicher, editor in chief, Astronomy Magazine"Beyond Biocentrism is a joyride through the history of science and cutting-edge physics, all with a very serious purpose: to find the long-overlooked connection between the conscious self and the universe around us."—Corey S. Powell, former editor-in-chief, Discover magazine"[Beyond Biocentrism] offers a neurobiological point of view to help answer questions about the world around us. Lanza and Berman make the journey towards a better understanding of the role of consciousness and perception. . . . A fun read."—Kwang-Soo Kim, professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, and director, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital "Lanza and Berman's latest statement of their theory of ‘biocentrism' changes the way we think about age-old religious questions such as the origin of the universe and human immortality. Based on cutting edge work in physics and biology and explained with exceptional clarity, Beyond Biocentrism is a must-read for anyone interested in science and religion."—Ronald M. Green, professor emeritus for the study of ethics and human values, and former chairman of the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College "Will machines ever achieve consciousness? Are plants aware? Is death an illusion? These are some of the big questions tackled in Beyond Biocentrism, which serves up a new, biology-based theory of everything that is as delightful to read as it is fascinating. Tremendously clear and lovely writing—a huge achievement."—Pamela Weintraub, psychology & health editor for Aeon Magazine, former Executive Editor of Discover Magazine and former editor in chief of OMNI MagazinePraise for Biocentrism:"An extraordinary mind. . . . Having interviewed some of the most brilliant minds in the scientific world, I found Dr. Robert Lanza's insights into the nature of consciousness original and exciting. His theory of biocentrism is consistent with the most ancient traditions of the world which say that consciousness conceives, governs, and becomes a physical world. It is the ground of our Being in which both subjective and objective reality come into existence."—Deepak Chopra"This is a brave new book. Instead of placing life as an accidental byproduct, the authors place life at the apex of universal existence and purpose. It is a very thrilling and disturbing read. While the proposals made in Biocentrism seem radical and counter-intuitive at first, a bit of reflection will soon make the images clearer and place us on the pathway to a better and more commonsensical mindset."—Michael Gooch, author of Wingtips with Spurs"Both interesting and worth the effort of reading it . . . From the way [Lanza] chooses to present his arguments, it's clear he has a solid grasp of esoteric disciplines . . . His style is conversational . . . And his sense of wonder . . . is as infectious as it is delightful."—Midwest Book Review

    2 in stock

    £10.99

  • What Is Philosophy for

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC What Is Philosophy for

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhy should anybody take an interest in philosophy? Is it just another detailed study like metallurgy? Or is it similar to history, literature and even religion: a study meant to do some personal good and influence our lives?Engaging and accessible, this vigorous swansong exemplifies many of Midgley''s virtues, and revisits many of her favourite themes. - The Tablet In her last published work, Mary Midgley addresses provocative questions, interrogating the various forms of our current intellectual anxieties and confusions and how we might deal with them. In doing so, she provides a robust, yet not uncritical, defence of philosophy and the life of the mind.This defence is expertly placed in the context of contemporary debates about science, religion, and philosophy. It asks whether, in light of rampant scientific and technological developments, we still need philosophy to help us think about the big questions of meaning, knowledge, and value.Trade ReviewEngaging and accessible, this vigorous swansong exemplifies many of Midgley's virtues, and revisits many of her favourite themes ... [it helps] us to see that many of our problems arise from trying to fit everything into a single explanatory template, rather than realising that one and the same reality can be understood from irreducibly different points of view. * The Tablet *Her final answer to the question “What is philosophy for?” is that its aim is not at all like that of the sciences. Scientists are specialists who study parts of the world, but philosophy concerns everybody. It tries to bring together aspects of life that have previously been unconnected in order to make a more coherent world-picture, which is not a private luxury but something essential for human life. * Philosophy Now *[This] is a book that not only illuminates the dangers and shortfalls of contemporary unrestrained faith in scientific and technological supremacy, it also accentuates the integrating qualities of philosophy which are necessary to achieve a more exhaustive view of the world and its complexities. * Ethical Theory and Moral Practice *Table of ContentsPart 1. The Search for Signposts Chapter 1. Directions Chapter 2. Do Ideas Get Out Of Date? Chapter 3. What is Research? Chapter 4. Clashes of Method Chapter 5. What is Matter? Chapter 6. Quantum Queries Chapter 7. What is Progress? Chapter 8. Perspectives and Paradoxes: Rousseau And His Intellectual Explosives Chapter 9. Mill And The Different Kinds Of Freedom Chapter 10. Making Sense Of Toleration PART 2. Tempting Visions of Science Chapter 11. The Force of World-Pictures Chapter 12. The Past Does Not Die Chapter 13. Scientism; The New Sedative PART 3. Mindlessness and Machine Worship Chapter 14. The Power-Struggle Chapter 15. Missing Persons Chapter 16. Oracles PART 4. Singularities and the Cosmos Chapter 17. What Kind of Singularity? Chapter 18. Can Intelligence be Measured? Chapter 19. What is Materialism? Chapter 20. The Cult of Impersonality Chapter 21. Matter and Reality Chapter 22. The Mystique of Scientism Chapter 23. The Strange World-Picture Conclusion: One World but Many Window

    1 in stock

    £20.89

  • Quantum NonLocality and Relativity

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Quantum NonLocality and Relativity

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisQuantum Non-Locality and Relativity is recognized as the premier philosophical study of Bell s Theorem and its implication for the relativistic account of space and time. The third edition has been carefully updated to reflect significant developments.Trade Review"Maudlin's book is outstanding, and is particularly remarkable for three central achievements: the clearest exposition of Bell's theorem I know of; a careful discussion of the (in)compatibility between the implications of that theorem and relativity; and astute suggestions for how one could deal with this problem. Maudlin is a professional philosopher who writes on this most fundamental issue of physics in a way that is far clearer than the work of most physicists." -Jean Bricmont, University of LouvainTable of ContentsPreface to First Edition vi Preface to Second Edition x Preface to Third Edition xii Introduction 1 1 Bell’s Theorem: The Price of Locality 6 Appendix A: The GHZ Scheme 24 2 Relativity and Space-time Structure 27 3 Finger Exercise: Superluminal Matter Transport 55 4 Controlling the Connection: Signals 74 Appendix B: Bohmian Mechanics 106 5 Causation 114 6 Secret Messages 148 7 Points of View 173 8 Life in Elastic Space-time 205 9 Morals 221 10 New Discoveries and Deeper Insights: The View from 2010 224 An Overview of Quantum Mechanics 260 References 284 Index 290

    15 in stock

    £26.55

  • Becoming Socrates: Political Philosophy in

    Boydell & Brewer Ltd Becoming Socrates: Political Philosophy in

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisA rigorous investigation of Socrates' early education, pinpointing the thought that led Socrates to turn from natural science to the study of morality, ethics, and politics Plato's Parmenides is regarded as a canonical work in ontology. Depicting a conversation between Parmenides of Elea and a young Socrates, the dialogue presents a rigorous examination of Socrates' theory of the forms, the most influential account of being in the philosophic tradition. In this commentary on the Parmenides, Alex Priou argues that the dialogue is, in actuality, a reflection on politics. Priou begins from the accepted view that the conversation consists of two discrete parts -- a critique of the forms, followed by Socrates' philosophical training -- but finds a unity to the dialogue yet to be acknowledged. By paying careful attention to what Parmenides calls the "greatest impasse" facing Socrates' ontology, Priou reveals a political context to the conversation. The need in society for order and good rule includes the need, at a more fundamental level, for an adequate andefficacious explanation of being. Recounting here how a young Socrates first learned of the primacy of political philosophy, which would become the hallmark of his life, Becoming Socrates shows that political philosophy, and not ontology, is "first philosophy." Alex Priou is an instructor in the Herbst Program in the Humanities in Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder.Trade ReviewFor the first time, Plato's presentation of the young Socrates being schooled by the great Parmenides in ontology is shown to illuminate, and to be illuminated by, Plato's presentation of the mature Socrates analyzing justice in the Republic. What results is a deeply thought-provoking new perspective on Platonic-Socratic political philosophy. -- Thomas L. Pangle, University of Texas at AustinAlex Priou addresses here the crucial role that the Parmenides plays in Plato's account of the 'Socratic turn,' that is, in the thinking that led Socrates to turn away from natural philosophy and initiate a new way of philosophizing that we now call political philosophy. This impressive and valuable new interpretation helps us to understand better a notoriously difficult Platonic dialogue about the beginning of both political theory and the tradition of Western rationalism. -- Mark J. Lutz, University of Nevada, Las VegasAlex Priou achieves an extraordinary feat in his study of the Parmenides. Becoming Socrates is essential reading for understanding both the emergence of political philosophy and the centrality of political philosophy. * INTERPRETATION *Alex Priou's Becoming Socrates is a noteworthy achievement. It sheds new light on the relation between Plato's theory of forms and political philosophy, and puts forth a winning account of both Parmenides and Plato's philosophical project as a whole. * ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY *Becoming Socrates [...] is still more philosophically ambitious in scope, and more responsible in its sense of how its chosen dialogue relates to Platonic philosophy as a whole. * Review of Politics *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments The Problem of the Parmenides Parmenides on Socrates' "Platonism": "Parmenides" 126a1-137c4 Parmenides on Eleatic Monism: "Parmenides" 137c4-166c5 The Problem of Socrates Notes Works Cited Index

    Out of stock

    £76.50

  • The Man Who Could Fly

    Rowman & Littlefield The Man Who Could Fly

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisSt. Joseph of Copertino began having mystical visions at the age of seven, but it was not until he began practicing his faith as a Franciscan priest that he realized the full potential of his mind's power over his bodyhe was able to levitate. Throughout his priesthood St. Joseph became famous for frequent levitations that were observed on hundreds of occasions and by thousands of witnesses, including many skeptics. Michael Grosso delves into the biography of the saint to explore the many strange phenomena that surrounded his life and develops potential physical explanations for some of the most astounding manifestations of his religious ecstasy. Grosso draws upon contemporary explorations into cognition, the relationship between the human mind and body, and the scientifically recorded effects of meditation and other transcendent practices to reveal the implications of St. Joseph's experiences and abilities.Trade ReviewGrosso, former humanities and philosophy teacher at Marymount Manhattan College, canvasses the spiritual awakenings of St. Joseph of Copertino, the 17th century Italian friar who was purportedly could levitate, dedicating ample space to his troubled childhood. After an introduction that grounds St. Joseph’s miraculous feats in contemporary arguments against strict scientific, materialist views on reality—particularly the work of philosopher Paul Feyerabend—Grosso guides readers through St. Joseph’s private and public life, detailing the many primary accounts of supernatural events that seemingly encircled St. Joseph: levitation, psychokinesis, poltergeists, inedia, and materialization. He asks the why and how questions of 'is it possible?' Readers who are interested in the mystery surrounding historical figures shunned by the church will discover tidbits of fascinating information regarding this oft-suffering soul. Grosso’s work here is thorough. * Publishers Weekly *A miracle, to quote St. Augustine,'does not occur contrary to nature, but contrary to what we know of nature.' So what happens when a miracle occurs, repeatedly, what can it tell us about the nature of the nature we inhabit and, more importantly perhaps, about its meaning? This is the subject of Michael Grosso’s searching, beautifully written and challenging book.... The Man Who Could Fly is not only an exemplary case study of a levitating saint but an agenda both for further research, search and reconfiguration of what it might mean to be human in a universe the knowledge of which remains enticingly and enjoyably uncertain, open and inviting. * Network Review *The Man Who Could Fly is a story of considerable interest to parapsychologists, and one which Grosso tells very well indeed, with the attention to relevant detail one expects from a well-informed philosopher. * Journal of the Society for Psychical Research *Provocatively, happily, Michael Grosso’s elegant book on the ecstasies and flights of Joseph does not leave the reader with an easy escape from the conclusion that St. Joseph of Copertino really was ‘the man who could fly.’ -- Jeffrey J Kripal, author of Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the SacredGrosso’s enthralling study immerses us in the strange world of a levitating, seventeenth-century mystic, but does much more too. Above all, it invites us to question present-day assumptions about the dependence of mind on brain and, ultimately, the nature of reality. -- Paul Marshall, PhD, BSc, RGN, RMNThe Man Who Could Fly is a thrilling examination of our evolving understanding of consciousness and human abilities. Michael Grosso inverts the conventional dogma that matter makes mind by showing that mind shapes matter. Beautifully written and tightly reasoned, this book is a potent antidote to the suffocating, deadening effects of the materialist ideology of our time. The Man Who Could Fly is one of the most important explorations of consciousness thus far in the twenty-first century. -- Larry Dossey, MD, Author of Healing Beyond the Body, Reinventing Medicine and Healing Words

    Out of stock

    £36.90

  • The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of

    Globe Pequot The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe nature and theoretical underpinnings of ethics have been an intellectual driving force animating the pursuits of great scholars. In The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals (1785) Immanuel Kant, one of the most powerful philosophical minds of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, inquires into the true nature of morality.In rejecting the results or consequences of action as the foundation of moral judgments, he denies that good or bad effects have any relevance in the moral evaluation of human behavior. Instead, we must rely upon the Good Will for guidance. What is this Will upon which so much emphasis is placed, and how does it act as the foundation for behavior that can be assessed as truly moral? In this groundbreaking work, Kant outlines an ethical perspective that has been a vital force in the Western world.

    Out of stock

    £8.54

  • Gothic Metaphysics: From Alchemy to the

    University of Wales Press Gothic Metaphysics: From Alchemy to the

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisGothic Metaphysics is a radical departure from Freudian-centred criticism of Gothic literature. It aims to explore our modern dilemma in the time of the Anthropocene, by bringing to light the role of Gothic since its inception in 1764 in holding space for a worldview familiar to certain mystical traditions - such as alchemy, which held to the view of a living cosmos yet later deemed 'uncanny' and anachronistic by Freud. In developing this idea, Gothic Metaphysics explores the influence of the Middle Ages on the emergence of Gothic, seeing it as an encrypted genre that serves as the site of a 'live burial' of 'animism', which has emerged in the notion of 'quantum entanglement' best described by Carl G. Jung and physicist Wolfgang Pauli in the theory of synchronicity linking alchemy with quantum mechanics. This relationship finds itself in dialogue with the Gothic's long-held concern for the 'sentience of space and place', as described by renowned Gothic scholar Fredrick Frank. The volume Gothic Metaphysics is multi-valent and explores how Gothic has sustained the view of a sentient world despite the disqualification of nature - not only in respect to the extirpation of animism as a worldview, but also with regard to an affirmation of consciousness beyond that of human exceptionalism.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Gothic Metaphysics: From Alchemy to the Anthropocene Chapter 2: Occult Subjects: Parapsychology and the Foreign Body in Psychoanalysis Chapter 3: There Is No Occult-Free Zone: Transgenerational Emergence Chapter 4: An Other-Valued Reality: Animism and Literature Chapter 5: Ghost Dance Chapter 6: Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and the Strange Question of Trans-Subjectivity Chapter 7: Learning to Talk with Ghosts: Canadian Gothic and the Poetics of Haunting in Eden Robinson's Monkey Beach Chapter 8: EcoGothic and the Anthropocene: The Ecological Subject Chapter 9: Afterwor(l)ds: All My Relations Bibliography

    Out of stock

    £63.00

  • Is There a God

    Taylor & Francis Ltd Is There a God

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBertrand Russell famously quipped that he didn't believe in God for the same reason that he didn't believe in a teapot in orbit between the earth and Mars: it is a bizarre assertion for which no evidence can be provided. Is belief in God really like belief in Russell's teapot? Kenneth L. Pearce argues that God is no teapot. God is a real answer to the deepest question of all: why is there something rather than nothing? Graham Oppy argues that we should believe that there are none but natural causal entities with none but natural causal propertiesand hence should believe that there are no gods. Beginning from this basic disagreement, the authors proceed to discuss and debate a wide range of philosophical questions, including questions about explanation, necessity, rationality, religious experience, mathematical objects, the foundations of ethics, and the methodology of philosophy. Each author first presents his own side, and then they interact through two rounds of objections and repTrade Review"Kenneth Pearce and Graham Oppy are first-rate philosophers of religion. This book offers an engaging and fruitful dialogue between a theist and an atheist, addressing all key concepts and arguments in the contemporary debate on the existence of God. I recommend the book to all readers who are interested in studying both sides of the debate."Yujin Nagasawa, H. G. Wood Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, University of Birmingham, U.K."This exchange between Oppy and Pearce represents the finest in philosophical inquiry. Together they create a new chandelier with structure and detail as they systematically discuss questions of worldview along the cutting edge of philosophical inquiry. Their exchange is professional, productive, and elegant."Joshua Rasmussen, Department of Philosophy, Azusa Pacific University, U.S.A.Table of ContentsForeword: Worldview comparison and religious commitment, by Helen De Cruz Opening Statements 1. Classical Theism: An Exposition and Defense 2. Are There Any Gods? First Round of Replies 3. Reply to Graham Oppy’s Opening Statement4. Reply to Kenny Pearce’s Opening Statement Second Round of Replies 5. Reply to Graham Oppy's Reply 6. Reply to Kenny Pearces’s Reply

    1 in stock

    £27.99

  • Absence and Nothing The Philosophy of What There

    Oxford University Press Absence and Nothing The Philosophy of What There

    Book SynopsisNothing is not. Yet it seems that we invoke absences and nothings often in our philosophical explanations. Negative metaphysics is on the rise. It has been claimed that absences can be causes, there are negative properties, absences can be perceived, there are negative facts, and that we can refer to and speak about nothing. Parmenides long ago ruled against such things. Here we consider how much of Parmenides'' view can survive. A soft Parmenidean methodology is adopted in which we aim to reject all supposed negative entities but are prepared to accept them, reluctantly, if they are indispensable and irreducible in our best theories. We then see whether there are any negative entities this survive this test. Some can be dismissed on metaphysical grounds but other problems are explained only once we reject another strand in Parmenides and show how we can think and talk about nothing. Accounts of perception of absence, empty reference, and denial are gathered. With these, we can show how no truthmakers are required for negative truths since we can have negative beliefs, concerning what-is-not, without what-is-not being part of what is. This supports a soft ontological Parmenideanism, which accepts much though not all of Parmenides'' original position.Table of ContentsPreface 1: Soft Parmenideanism 2: Negative Properties 3: Nonentities 4: Causation by Absence 5: Mere Possibilities 7: Perception of Absence 8: Empty Reference 9: Negative Truth 10: Negation and Denial 11: Negative Belief

    £76.00

  • The Moral Nexus

    Princeton University Press The Moral Nexus

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] wonderful accomplishment: to have provided us with a highly original and ambitious reinterpretation of the moral domain and to thereby have paved the way for a potential paradigm shift in moral theorizing against the background of the basic idea that “no individual is either more or less important than any other” (p. 20)."---Jonas Vandieken, Journal of Moral Philosophy"[The Moral Nexus] brilliantly explores, with nuance and in detail, the reasons embedded in ordinary moral thought that undergird the appeal of a relational interpretation in moral reasoning. . . . It presents the appeal of a relational interpretation of morality in a way that makes it accessible to those who find its attractions mystifying, while simultaneously forcing those of us already drawn to theorizing about morality in relational terms to carefully consider exactly what we take that to involve.—Paul Kumar, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"

    10 in stock

    £35.70

  • What Death Really is

    Pilgrims Publishing What Death Really is

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £7.39

  • The Case Against Reality Why Evolution Hid the

    WW Norton & Co The Case Against Reality Why Evolution Hid the

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisCan we trust our senses to tell us the truth?Trade Review"A masterpiece of logic, rationality, science, and mathematics. Read this book carefully and you will forever change your understanding of reality, both that of the universe and your own self." -- Deepak Chopra, author of The Healing Self"Hoffman’s truly radical theory will force us to ponder reality in a completely different light. Handle with care. Your perception of the world around you is about to be dismantled!" -- Chris Anderson, author of TED Talks"Think you know what’s really out there? Read this breathtaking, whistle-stop tour of a book that illuminates all the profound weirdness masked by our experience and assumptions." -- David Eagleman, best-selling author of The Brain and Incognito"A fresh view into who we truly are—one that transcends the perceptions that we accept as reality. Hoffman unapologetically takes us down a rabbit hole where we learn that all reality is virtual and that truth lies solely in you, the creator." -- Rudolph Tanzi, coauthor of Super Brain"Captivating and courageous…anyone who reads this book will likely never look at the world the same way again. Hoffman challenges us to rethink some of the most basic foundations of neuroscience and physics, which could prove to be exactly what we need to make progress on the most difficult questions we face about the nature of reality." -- Annaka Harris, author of Conscious"In the mood to have your mind blown? In this fascinating, deeply original, and wonderfully engaging book, Hoffman takes us on a tour of the uncharted territory where cognitive science, fundamental physics, and evolutionary biology meet— and where the nature of reality hangs in the balance. You’ll never look at the world— or, rather, your interface— the same way again." -- Amanda Gefter, author of Trespassing on Einstein’s Lawn"Woody Allen once said, ‘I hate reality, but . . . where else can you get a good steak dinner?’ Hoffman turns that joke on its head: What we have always been after is the steak dinner; what we call reality is our best adapted strategy for getting it. Sink your teeth into that!" -- Christopher A. Fuchs, professor of physics, University of Massachusetts Boston"This book is a must-read if you want to bring your understanding of ‘reality’ in sync with the way the World is. You are in for some major surprises and mind expanding. A good read that will set you thinking about yourself, others and the world." -- Jan Koenderink, author of Color for the Sciences

    15 in stock

    £14.24

  • Mysteries of Reality, The: Dialogues with

    Collective Ink Mysteries of Reality, The: Dialogues with

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisCourageous scientists challenge the dominant paradigm of reality. Why are they so brave and what does their research reveal? What is reality? Is there more than we know from our five senses? Vanguard scientists believe there is more than we see so they formulate a non-materialist paradigm that expands human potential, to include mind and matter interaction. Since going against the dominant worldview provokes opposition, this book explores the personal backgrounds of the scientists to find out why they are so courageous. We learn that there is another dimension that allows for enhanced abilities. Based on interviews conducted by Gayle Kimball, The Mysteries of Reality: Dialogues with Visionary Scientists reports on the current research and personal characteristics of visionaries from around the world.

    15 in stock

    £22.79

  • The Metaphysics

    Dover Publications Inc. The Metaphysics

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe ancient Greek thinker refutes skepticism, demonstrates God's existence, compares metaphysics to the other sciences, elucidates the nature of the infinite, and explores other major philosophical issues.

    10 in stock

    £10.79

  • NeoConfucianism Metaphysics Mind and Morality

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd NeoConfucianism Metaphysics Mind and Morality

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisSolidly grounded in Chinese primary sources, Neo Confucianism: Metaphysics, Mind, and Morality engages the latest global scholarship to provide an innovative, rigorous, and clear articulation of neo-Confucianism and its application to Western philosophy.Trade Review"This book is clearly one of the greatest accomplishments among English Neo-Confucian philosophical studies in recent decades. JeeLoo Liu uses clear language and rigorous philosophical reasoning to analyze eight pivotal Neo-Confucian figures regarding three major areas: metaphysics, moral theory and moral practice. The book can be aptly used as both an introduction to Neo-Confucianism for beginners and a top reference for researchers, which is itself a rare achievement."Reviewed by Bin Song, Washington CollegeNotre Dame Philosophical Reviews, March 2019Table of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Part I Neo]Confucian Metaphysics: From Cosmology to Ontology 29 1 From Nothingness to Infinity: The Origin of Zhou Dunyi's Cosmology 31 2 The Basic Constituent of Things: Zhang Zai's Monist Theory of Qi 61 3 Cheng–Zhu School's Normative Realism: The Principle of the Universe 85 4 Wang Fuzhi's Theory of Principle Inherent in Qi 103 Part II Human Nature, Human Mind, and the Foundation of Human Morality 123 5 Zhu Xi's Internal Moral Realism: Human Nature Is Principle 125 6 Lu Xiangshan and Wang Yangming's Doctrine of Mind Is Principle 139 7 Wang Fuzhi's Theory of Daily Renewal of Human Nature and His Moral Psychology 157 Part III The Cultivation of Virtue, Moral Personality, and the Construction of a Moral World 181 8 Zhang Zai on Cultivating Moral Personality 183 9 The Cheng Brothers' Globaist Virtue Ethics and Virtue Epistemology 205 10 Zhu Xi's Methodology for Cultivating Sagehood: Moral Cognitivism and Ethical Rationalism 227 11 Wang Yangming';s Intuitionist Model of Innate Moral Sense and Moral Reflexivism 245 12 Constructing a Moral World: Wang Fuzhi's Social Sentimentalism 265 References 285 Index 301

    15 in stock

    £27.50

  • Martin Heidegger's Path of Thinking

    Prometheus Books Martin Heidegger's Path of Thinking

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis book offers a rich introduction to Heidegger that reveals Poggeler's sound scholarship and philosophical criticism.

    15 in stock

    £33.25

  • Question Of Being – Reversal Of Heidegger

    St Augustine's Press Question Of Being – Reversal Of Heidegger

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn this book, Rosen enters into a debate with Heidegger in order to provide a justification for metaphysics. Rosen presents a fresh interpretation of metaphysics that opposes the traditional doctrines attacked by Heidegger, on the one hand, and by contemporary philosophers influenced by Heidegger, on the other. He refutes Heidegger's claim that metaphysics (or what Heidegger calls Platonism) is derived from the Aristotelian science of being as being. He argues indeed that metaphysics is simply the commonsensical reflection on the nature of ordinary experience and on the standards of living a better life. Rosen uses his critique of Heidegger to suggest the next step in philosophy: that technical precision and speculative metaphysics be unified in what he calls a "step downward into the rich air of everyday life."Trade Review'This is a great book of philosophy by a great thinker. It is what the whole philosophical scene needs; it is how philosophy should be done. A huge enlightening work of scholarship and philosophical insight.' - Iris Murdoch 'I would recommend The Question of Being as the most intelligent study of Heidegger written in English. In fact there are few studies in other languages that seem as good.' - Paul Gottfried, 'The Review of Metaphysics' 'Rosen's book brims with brilliance.' - Keith Ansell-Pearson,'The Times Higher Education Supplement' 'I know of no more thoughtful and challenging discussion of Heidegger than Rosen's The Question of Being.' - Karsten Harries, 'International Journal of Philosophical Studies' 'Rosen's book is unique and original, a genuine work of philosophy.' - Jacques Taminiaux, Boston CollegeTable of ContentsIntroduction, notes, appendix, index

    1 in stock

    £22.00

  • Paradigms for a Metaphorology

    Cornell University Press Paradigms for a Metaphorology

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis"Paradigms for a Metaphorology may be read as a kind of beginner''s guide to Blumenberg, a programmatic introduction to his vast and multifaceted oeuvre. Its brevity makes it an ideal point of entry for readers daunted by the sheer bulk of Blumenberg''s later writings, or distracted by their profusion of historical detail. Paradigms expresses many of Blumenberg''s key ideas with a directness, concision, and clarity he would rarely match elsewhere. What is more, because it served as a beginner's guide for its author as well, allowing him to undertake an initial survey of problems that would preoccupy him for the remainder of his life, it has the additional advantage that it can offer us a glimpse into what might be called the ''genesis of the Blumenbergian world.'"from the Afterword by Robert SavageWhat role do metaphors play in philosophical language? Are they impediments to clear thinking and clear expression, rhetorical flourishes that may well help to make philosophy more accessible to a lay audience, but that ought ideally to be eradicated in the interests of terminological exactness? Or can the images used by philosophers tell us more about the hopes and cares, attitudes and indifferences that regulate an epoch than their carefully elaborated systems of thought?In Paradigms for a Metaphorology, originally published in 1960 and here made available for the first time in English translation, Hans Blumenberg (19201996) approaches these questions by examining the relationship between metaphors and concepts. Blumenberg argues for the existence of "absolute metaphors" that cannot be translated back into conceptual language. These metaphors answer the supposedly naïve, theoretically unanswerable questions whose relevance lies quite simply in the fact that they cannot be brushed aside, since we do not pose them ourselves but find them already posed in the ground of our existence. They leap into a void that concepts are unable to fill.An afterword by the translator, Robert Savage, positions the book in the intellectual context of its time and explains its continuing importance for work in the history of ideas.Trade ReviewParadigms for a Metaphorology is a model of scholarly translation. Savage's handling of citations and sources is scrupulous and thorough.... And he provides judicious explanatory notes that work in conjunction with the afterword and Blumenberg's own notes to guide readers through Blumenberg's own reading and career. Finally, and most importantly, his English rendering is consistently accurate while also being, in the context of translations of German philosophy, remarkably readable.... In short, readers approaching Blumenberg's reflections on metaphor through the English language could not ask for a more reliable and helpful guide than this volume. -- David Adams * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Table of ContentsHans Blumenberg: An Introduction Part I: History, Secularization, and Reality 1. The Linguistic Reality of Philosophy (1946/1947) 2. World Pictures and World Models (1961) 3. "Secularization": Critique of a Category of Hisotrical Illegitimacy (1964) 4. The Concept of Reality and the Theory of the State (1968/1969) 5. Preliminary Remarks on the Concept of Reality (1974) Part II: Metaphors, Rhetoric, and Nonconceptuality 6. Light as a Metaphor for Truth: At the Preliminary Stage of Philosophical Concept Formation (1957) 7. Introduction to Paradigms for a Metaphorology (1960) 8. An Anthropological Approach to the Contemporary Significance of Rhetoric (1971) 9. Observations Drawn from Metaphors (1971) 10. Prospect for a Theory of Nonconceptuality (1979) 11. Theory of Nonconceptuality (circa 1975, excerpt) Part III: Nature, Technology, and Asthetics 12. The Relationship between Nature and Technology as a Philosophical Problem (1951) 13. "Imitation of Nature": Toward a Prehistory of the Idea of the Creative Being (1957) 14. Phenomenological Aspects on Life-World and Technization (1963) 15. Socrates and the objet ambigu: Paul Valery's Discussion of the Ontology of the Aesthetic Object and Its Tradition (1964) 16. The Essential Ambiguity of the Aesthetic Object (1966) 17. Speech Situation and Immanent Poetics (1966) Part IV: Fables, Anecdotes, and the Novel 18. The Absolute Father (1952/1953) 19. The Mythos and Ethos of America in the Work of William Faulkner (1958) 20. The Concept of Reality and the Possibility of the Novel (1964) 21. Pensiveness (1980) 22. Moments of Goethe (1982) 23. Beyond the Edge of Reality: Three Short Essays (1983) 24. Of Nonunderstanding: Glosses on Three Fables (1984) 25. Unknown Aesopica: From Newly Found Fables (1985) 26. Advancing into Eternal Silence: A Century after the Sailing of the Fram (1993)

    1 in stock

    £16.14

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