Scholastic Metaphysics

Posted on 02 January 2017 by Edward Feser

Scholastic Metaphysics A Contemporary Introduction provides an overview of Scholastic approaches to causation, substance, essence, modality, identity, persistence, teleology, and other issues in fundamental metaphysics The book interacts heavily with the literature on these issues in contemporary analytic metaphysics, so as to facilitate the analytic reader s understanding of Scholastic ideas and the Scholastic reader s understanding of contemporary analytic philosophy The Aristotelian theory of actuality and potentiality provides the organizing theme, and the crucial dependence of Scholastic metaphysics on this theory is demonstrated The book is written from a Thomistic point of view, but Scotist and Suarezian positions are treated as well where they diverge from the Thomistic position. New Download Scholastic Metaphysics [ Author ] Edward Feser [ Kindle ePUB or eBook ] – kino-fada.fr While Feser does not have the ability to argue at the level of Garrigou Lagrange or Alexander Pruss he has another quality that is often not there, especially for scholastic metaphysicians, he is able to make the argument clear and will serve both for reference and as a textbook in a way others will not and this is a must read for anyone interested in the subject on any level All is not well only in the sense that he does not engage much with Kant, Hegel and Heidegger and spends most of his tim While Feser does not have the ability to argue at the level of Garrigou Lagrange or Alexander...This is an indispensable guide to scholastic metaphysics The main virtue which distinguishes this book from others is that it is not simply historical on the one hand nor idiosyncratic on the other Feser is neither providing a strict account of Thomistic metaphysics though Thomas is one of the main heroes nor offering his own system Rather, Feser offers an introduction to metaphysics in the scholastic mode, recommending it by defending it and contrasting it withrecent analytic metaphy This is an indispensable guide to scholastic metaphysics The main virtue which distinguishes this book from others is that it is not simply historical on the one hand nor idiosyncratic on the other Feser is neither providing a strict account of Thomistic metaphysics though Thomas is one of the main heroes nor offering his own system Rather, Feser offers an introduction to metaphysics in the scholastic mode, recommending it by defending it and contrasting it withrecent analytic metaphysics Overall, the presentation is elegant and systematic, beginning with the fundamental act potency distinction and showing how it is both the most coherent metaphysic and the basis of schola...This is an amazing introduction to the topic I haven t read the original works, so I cannot say how true to tradition he is, but Feser is extremely accessible and sheds a lot of light on how Scholastic views on causality, the theory of act and potency, hylemorphism, etc are relevant to us today He has large sections on objections and the Scholastic r...Concise summary of refutations of modern philosophy s arguments contra Scholastic metaphysicsConsidering this book is only 260 pages, Dr Feser covers a lot of ground I found the beginning on causality and Dr Feser s several arguments against Hume s loose and separate conception of causality very good.Dr Feser engages modern physics, too, quoting Heisenberg s Physics and Philosophy and briefly mentioning structural realism His analogy that uncolored color by the numbers drawings are to Concise summary of refutations of modern philosophy s arguments contra Scholastic metaphysicsConsidering this book is only 260 pages, Dr Feser covers a lot of ground I found the beginning on causality and Dr Feser s several arguments against Hume s loose and separate conception of causality very good.Dr Feser engages modern physics, too, quoting Heisenberg s Physics and Philosophy and briefly mentioning structural realism His analogy that uncolored color by the numbers drawings are to physical theory as a metaphysical explanation of said theory is to reality was illustrative Feser also argues, along with Nancy Cartwright, that modern science supports the Aristotelian tenet that physical objects have essences, because if they did not, one could not make sense of how physical theories e.g., Newton s inverse square law of gravitation between two bodies never hold exactly e.g., of the perturbing influence of other bodies Physical laws, pace Hume,...This book has helped me to understand better some of the central concepts of scholastic metaphysics act and potency, causation, substance, matter and form, essence and existence It deals mainly with Thomist metaphysics, but also touches on points where John Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and Francisco Suarez had different ideas than St Thomas Aquinas Occasionally this can be confusing For example, in section 1.3, Real distinctions , it seems to get bogged down in the controversy of Aquin This book has helped me to understand better some of the central concepts of scholastic metaphysics act and potency, causation, substance, matter and form, essence and existence It deals mainly with Thomist metaphysics, but also touches on points where John Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and Francisco Suarez had different ideas than St Thomas Aquinas Occasionally this can be confusing For example, in section 1.3, Real distinctions , it seems to get bogged down in the controversy of...I love the book, but it feels like in the complete guide to scholasticism and Thomism I have to say, I do love Feser s arrogance and wit, but it s sometimes a distraction and perhaps not the best representatives of the Thomists Kreeft is correct in asserting ...Honestly, an excellent introduction.Although this book says it s an introduction , it will be a challenge for most readers It was for me Nevertheless, I like the books that are the most challenging, as they tend to stretch my mind This book outlines scholastic metaphysics the approach to philosophy that was predominant in the universities of the late medieval period , but does it in a way that engages with contemporary analytic philosophy It also give a...Good general overview of scholastic metaphysics, presenting the thomist position first and contrasting it, where helpful, with dissenting views of Scotus and Suarez The book first explicates the Aristotelian doctrine of act and potency, which forms the fundamental starting point for all of the remaining doctrines Aristotelian causation, substance and accident including identity , and essence v existence including different senses of being, i.e., univocal, equivocal, and analogical It is Good general overview of scholastic metaphysics, presenting the thomist position first and contrasting it, where helpful, with dissenting views of Scotus and Suarez The book first explicates the Aristotelian doctrine of act and potency, which forms the fundamental starting point for all of the remaining doctrines Aristotelian causation, substance and accident including identity , and essence v existence including...Feser expertly navigates the current philosophical landscape and shows decisively why Scholastic Philosophy isrelevant than ever to the modern discussion An excellent book to use for a reference wheneve...

English
02 January 2017

Edward Feser