Description
Book SynopsisMetaphysics or Ontology? treats the evolution of the object of metaphysics from being, to the concept of being, to, finally, the object (thought). Possible being must be non-contradictory, but an object of thought includes anything a human being can think, including contradictions and nothingness. When the concept of being, or object of thought, replaces existence as the object of metaphysics, it becomes something other than metaphysics—ontology, or something beyond ontology. However, ontology cannot examine existence because it only investigates concepts and possibility. Only classical metaphysics investigates reality qua reality. This book masterfully treats the history of this controversy and many other important metaphysical questions raised over the centuries
Trade Review"Metaphysics or Ontology? masterfully treats not only the history of the controversy, but also many important metaphysical questions that have been raised over the centuries. What is at stake are the most fundamental and important questions philosophers can ask such as (1) How should we understand being—as real or possible?, (2) How should we understand existence—as actuality or as a mode of essence?, and (3) What has priority, essence or existence? This is a book that will reward the reader with new insights each time it is read; it deserves the special attention of scholars and philosophers for decades to come." Robert Anthony Delfino, St. John’s University, New York
Table of ContentsForeword Robert Delfino Preface Introduction Part 1: On the Origin of Metaphysics 1 From Sophía to Philosophía 2 From Philosophy (φιλοσοφία) to Meta-physics (τὰ μeτà τὰ φυσικά) 3 From ta metá ta physiká to Metaphysics Commentaries: The Assimilation and Continuity of Culture 4 The Autonomy of Metaphysics 5 Ontology in the Middle Ages? Part 1 Summary Part 2: The Rise of Ontology 6 Descartes and Malebranche—The Return of Augustinianism 7 British Philosophy: The Marginalization of Metaphysics 8 The Founders of Ontology: From Lorhard to Clauberg 9 Ontology before Metaphysics: From Wolff to Kant 10 Logic as Ontology: Hegel 11 The Apotheosis of Mathematics: Bolzano, Frege, and Meinong 12 Phenomenology apart from Metaphysics: Husserl, Ingarden, Heidegger 13 Metaphysics as Ontology: Nicolai Hartmann 14 Analytic Philosophy: A Metaphysics of Conceptual Schemata 15 Metaphysics or Ontology of Process? 16 Negative Ontology: Adorno 17 Postmoderism: The End of Metaphysics, or the End of Ontology? Part 2 Summary Part 3: Metaphysics or Ontology: Disputed Questions 18 Being or the Concept of Being?/b> The Term ‘Being’ and Its Meaning Being and the Apprehension of Being 19 Real Being or Possible Being? On the Principle of Identity and Non-Contradiction Possibility, Potency, and Real Essence: Aristotle Toward Possible Essence The Concept of Being and Possible Being: From Duns Scotus to Suárez Possible Being and Theology 20 Existence: Act or Modus? Existence: Etymology of the Term Did Aristotle Know the Difference between Essence and Existence? What Did Al-Farabi Discover? Existence as the Act of Being—Thomas Aquinas Existence is a Mode of Essence—Duns Scotus Suárez, the Heir of Scotus The Logical Transformation of Existence: Wolff 21 Essence Instead of Being The Etymology of the Word ‘Essence’ Essence in Itself—Al Farabi and Avicenna Essence Reinstated to Reality—Thomas Aquinas Essence apart from Reality—Duns Scotus Essence according to Suárez: The Return to Duns Scotus Essence that is Real because It is Possible: Clauberg and Wolff Kant: Separation from Essence Hegel: The Absolutization of Essence Essence in Phenomenology Heidegger—Illusory Critique of Essence 22 Ontology: Unreal Reality 23 Ontology and the Object Object: Etymology and Terminology The Object and the Knowledge of Being in Metaphysics The Object Instead of Being: Ontology Kant—The Creation of the Object Hegel—Objectivism without Realism Meinong: The Theory of the Object Instead of Ontology 24 Intentionality: Outside of Reality Intentionality: The Etymology of the Word The Theological Context The Philosophical Context 25 Ontology and the Subject Subject: Etymology of the Word The Subject in Metaphysics From Descartes to Leibniz Kant—Creator of the Philosophy of the Subject 26 Ontology and System System: Etymology and Pre-Philosophical Meaning System in Ancient Philosophy System as Organized Knowledge A System that Makes Reality: Hegel and Schelling Whether Suárez was the Author of the First System of Metaphysics, and if so, in What Sense What Sort of Realistic Metaphysics? Critique of Philosophy as a System—But What Sort of System? Ontology and Logical Systems 27 Univocity or Analogy? 28 Metaphysics, Ontology, Onto-Theology? Part 3 Summary Conclusion Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects
