The Dialectic of Essence

The Dialectic of Essence
Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Total Pages : 408
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781400825349
ISBN-13 : 1400825342
Rating : 4/5 (342 Downloads)

Book Synopsis The Dialectic of Essence by : Allan Silverman

Download or read book The Dialectic of Essence written by Allan Silverman and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2009-02-09 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Dialectic of Essence offers a systematic new account of Plato's metaphysics. Allan Silverman argues that the best way to make sense of the metaphysics as a whole is to examine carefully what Plato says about ousia (essence) from the Meno through the middle period dialogues, the Phaedo and the Republic, and into several late dialogues including the Parmenides, the Sophist, the Philebus, and the Timaeus. This book focuses on three fundamental facets of the metaphysics: the theory of Forms; the nature of particulars; and Plato's understanding of the nature of metaphysical inquiry. Silverman seeks to show how Plato conceives of "Being" as a unique way in which an essence is related to a Form. Conversely, partaking ("having") is the way in which a material particular is related to its properties: Particulars, thus, in an important sense lack essence. Additionally, the author closely analyzes Plato's idea that the relation between Forms and particulars is mediated by form-copies. Even when some late dialogues provide a richer account of particulars, Silverman maintains that particulars are still denied essence. Indeed, with the Timaeus's introduction of the receptacle, there are no particulars of the traditional variety. This book cogently demonstrates that when we understand that Plato's concern with essence lies at the root of his metaphysics, we are better equipped to find our way through the labyrinth of his dialogues and to better appreciate how they form a coherent theory.


The Dialectic of Essence Related Books

The Dialectic of Essence
Language: en
Pages: 408
Authors: Allan Silverman
Categories: Philosophy
Type: BOOK - Published: 2009-02-09 - Publisher: Princeton University Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Dialectic of Essence offers a systematic new account of Plato's metaphysics. Allan Silverman argues that the best way to make sense of the metaphysics as a
The Essence of Truth
Language: en
Pages: 268
Authors: Martin Heidegger
Categories: Philosophy
Type: BOOK - Published: 2002-06-18 - Publisher: A&C Black

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Essence of Truth must count as one of Heidegger's most important works, for nowhere else does he give a comparably thorough explanation of what is arguably
Substance and Essence in Aristotle
Language: en
Pages: 217
Authors: Charlotte Witt
Categories: Philosophy
Type: BOOK - Published: 2018-05-31 - Publisher: Cornell University Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Substance and Essence in Aristotle is a close study of Aristotle's most profound—and perplexing—treatise: Books VII-IX of the Metaphysics. These central boo
The Essence of Reality
Language: en
Pages: 257
Authors: ʿAyn al-Quḍāt
Categories: Literary Collections
Type: BOOK - Published: 2023-11-07 - Publisher: NYU Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A groundbreaking exposition of Islamic mysticism The Essence of Reality was written over the course of just three days in 514/1120, by a scholar who was just tw
Aquinas on Being and Essence
Language: en
Pages: 304
Authors: Joseph Bobik
Categories: Philosophy
Type: BOOK - Published: 2016-05-31 - Publisher: University of Notre Dame Pess

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In Aquinas on Being and Essence: A Translation and Interpretation, Joseph Bobik interprets the doctrines put forth by St. Thomas Aquinas in his treatise On Bein