Description
Book SynopsisGraham Priest presents an original exploration of philosophical questions concerning the one and the many. He covers a wide range of issues in metaphysics--including unity, identity, grounding, mereology, universals, being, intentionality, and nothingness--and deploys the techniques of paraconsistent logic in order to offer a radically new treatment of unity. Priest brings together traditions of Western and Asian thought that are usually kept separate in academic philosophy: he draws on ideas from Plato, Heidegger, and Nagarjuna, among other philosophers.
Trade ReviewA bracingly original treatise. The breadth and boldness of this work, as well as its technical rigor and historical sensitivity are very much to be admired. * Michael Price, Mind *
If you are looking for a book doing something genuinely innovative, doing it with rigor, clarity, and a deep sensitivity to the breadth of philosophical tradition, then One is one for you. * Jason Turner, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Online *
In just 230 pages, One is a dense, remarkably clear, and unique treatment of a wide-range of topics in philosophy. What unifies the book is the topic of what unifies objects generally -- what Priest calls 'gluon theory' -- and allied themes in Buddhist thought. Gluon theory answers the question, What makes something one? What is it that 'glues' an object together into a unity? The impressive number of topics brought together by Priest's answer, which prominently services the fringe views for which he is well-known, speaks to its power and elegance. For this reason, One could also serve as a panoramic introduction to Priestâs work generally. * C. A. McIntosh, Philosophy in Review *
Table of ContentsPART I: UNITY; PART II: IN PLATO'S TRAJECTORY; PART III: BUDDHIST THEMES
