Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology Books

Book SynopsisThis book is a manual for the attainment of knowledge of higher, more spiritual worlds. It opens new perspectives on the essential tasks of life. Not everyone can immediately achieve spiritual vision, but the discoveries of those who have it can be health-giving life nourishment for everyone. This process is facilitated by this manual. ?From 1899 until his death in 1925, Steiner articulated an ongoing stream of experiences that he claimed were of the spiritual world - experiences he said had touched him from an early age on. Steiner aimed to apply his training in mathematics, science, and philosophy to produce rigorous, verifiable presentations of those experiences. Steiner believed that through freely chosen ethical disciplines and meditative training, anyone could develop the ability to experience the spiritual world, including the higher nature of oneself and others. Steiner believed that such discipline and training would help a person to become a more moral, creative and free individual - free in the sense of being capable of actions motivated solely by love. 

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Book SynopsisThere has recently been considerable renewed interest in Book 7 of the Physics of Aristotle, once regarded as merely an undeveloped forerunner to Book 8. The debate surrounding the importance of the text is not new to modern scholarship: for example, in the fourth century BC Eudemus, the Peripatetic philosopher associate of Aristotle, left it out of his treatment of the Physics. Now, for the first time, Charles Hagen's lucid translation gives the English reader access to Simplicius' commentary on Book 7, an indispensable tool for understanding the text. Its particular interest lies in its explanation of how the chapters of Book 7 fit together and its reference to a more extensive second version of Aristotle's text than the one which survives today.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Textual Emendations TRANSLATION Notes Bibliography English-Greek Glossary Greek-English Index Index of Passages Cited Subject Index

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Book SynopsisAristotle's Metaphysics 2 consists of two chapters on methodology flanking an important discussion of the impossibility of infinite causal chains. The subject is vital for scientific method and for theological belief in a first cause and in a beginning of the universe. Philoponus later attacked Aristotle on this last point, but Alexander presents Aristotle's view in a most favourable light. In Metaphysics 3, Aristotle sets out what he sees as the central problems of metaphysics. Alexander's commentary was subsequently used by the Neoplatonists, two of whom have left their own commentaries, so that Alexander's Aristotelian interpretation can be compared with its rivals.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Textual Emendations TRANSLATION Notes Bibliography English-Greek Glossary Greek-English Index Index of Passages Cited Subject Index

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Book SynopsisGilbert Simondon: Information, Technology and Media is a comprehensive introduction to the work of the French philosopher Gilbert Simondon. In particular it examines Simondon's original informational ontology, as developed from a synthesis of Cybernetics, thermodynamics and French epistemology, The book goes on to delineate the role this ontology plays in developing an original account of individuation in the physical, biological and psycho-social regimes. This is done, in part, through reading Simondon with and against other figures in these fields such as Merleau-Ponty and Stuart Kauffman. Additionally, Mills explores Simondon's contribution to epistemology and invention, including an analysis of his important theories of the image-cycle and transindividuality. He also examines Simondon's influence on several contemporary thinkers, including Bernard Stiegler and Bruno Latour, before exploring the relevance of Simondon's work for theorising contemporary media technology.Trade ReviewThe object of this remarkable book is as clear as it is relevant —to provide the English-speaking readership with a complete and objective presentation of Gilbert Simondon’s philosophy of individuation and technology. Gilbert Simondon: Information, Technology and Media is a truly innovative study, which shows how to rethink the concept of information in an increasingly complex socio-technological system. -- Vincent K. Bontems, Director of the Atelier SimondonSimon Mills’s book is a timely and valuable introduction to Gilbert Simondon’s theory of information and individuation. Despite the fact that Simondon’s philosophy is steadily gaining more attention and recognition worldwide, English translations have been slow in coming; this book thus fills a gap in the Anglophone scholarship and will surely be a helpful English resource for those interested in understanding Simondonian concepts and the significance of Simondon’s thought for Continental Philosophy and Media Studies. -- Nandita Biswas Mellamphy, Associate Professor of Poitical Science, Western UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgements / Introduction / 1. Precursor to a Theory of Individuation / 2. Physical Individuation: Transduction and Information / 3. Vital Individuation / 4. Psychic and Collective Individuation / 5. Philosophy of Technology / 6. Culture & Technology / 7. Simondon, Latour & Stiegler / 8. Towards a Philosophy of Media / 9. Situating Simondon / Bibliography / Index

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Book SynopsisDenying the existence of the human soul has devastating effects on our valuation of human beings and human endeavour, maintains the author. He counters such denials, the result of the recent popularization of secular and materialist views of human development, with a detailed examination of philosophical, anthropological and scientific attacks on God and the reality of the human soul. Taking current scientific arguments back to their essentials, Professor Ward presents a convincing case. God is not dead - the watchmaker was never blind.Trade Review"easy to read, vivacious, confident" * Science & Christian Belief *Table of ContentsThe gospel of false freedom; the elimination of purpose from the universe; the reduction of morals to biology; the attack on conscience; the materialist denial of the soul; the attack on moral obligation; the soul and the brain; reason, religion and science.

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Book SynopsisThis controversial work discusses a theory of "plurallism", claiming that there is not merely a plurality of correct theories and world views, but a corresponding plurality of actual worlds. Plurality penetrates deeper than the linguistic surface or than conceptual or theoretical structure.Table of ContentsIntroducing and placing full and deep plurallism; explaining full metaphysical plurallism - their features, their differences; paths and arguments leading to deep plurallism - "vias negativas"; still more positive arguments to plurallism; worlds and wholes - their natures and relative features; talking and thinking plurallism as well as more ordinarily - modellings and discourse; making a wider metaphysical sweep - traditonal notions, traditional plurallism, traditional objections; distancing plurallism from realism, anti-realism and relativism, and those other -isms; plurallistic investigation of relevant philosophers and philosophical schools; impacts upon philosophy - harmonious applications and further problem-solving; what deep plurallism does, its intellectual impact, and where it leads; beyond intellectual plurallism - to liberating practice.

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Book SynopsisLeo Zagami’s groundbreaking study of aliens and UFOs explores where we come from and which mysterious figures have guided humanity's political and religious choices. From the prophets to the initiates and magicians, all ages have drawn from a common source of ultra-terrestrial and magical knowledge, passed down for millennia. This text reveals the identity of the unknown superiors, secret chiefs, and invisible masters who have guided Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and others. Zagami speaks of the existence of multidimensional doors used by the various Illuminati to let other beings into our world, while alluding to the latest discoveries of quantum physics for support. This shocking text will be embraced by those willing to look beyond the everyday to analyze our world's most puzzling circumstances.

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