Universal (metaphysics) - Universal (metaphysics) Universals (used as a noun) are either properties, relations, or types, but not classeses. It is worth noting that all four items are generally considered abstract, nonphysical entities. They are at least so considered by Platonic realists; there are others who use the terminology of properties, relations, etc., but who do not wish to be realists. Part of the difficulty, indeed, of understanding this problem is understanding the complex and confusing relations between theory and language, and what the use of language does, or does not, imply. Universals are contrasted with individuals. 'Universal' used as an adjective is contrasted with particular and concrete. Consider some examples of universals: there are types, like dog or "doghood"; properties, like red or redness; and relations, like betweenness or.
Extension (metaphysics) - Extension (metaphysics) In metaphysics, extension is, roughly speaking, the property of "taking up space". René Descartes defines extension as the property of existing in more than one dimension. For Descartes, the primary characteristic of matter is extension, just as the primary characteristic of mind is consciousness.
Type (metaphysics) - Type (metaphysics) Types are a category of being. A human is a type of thing; a cloud is a type of thing; and so on. An instance of a type is called a token of that thing; so Socrates is a token of a human being; the letter "A" you see on this page is a token of the first letter of our alphabet; the apple on the table is a token of the type, apple..
Robert Heinlein on metaphysics - Robert Heinlein on metaphysics Robert A. Heinlein, in his book To Sail Beyond the Sunset has the main character, Maureen, state that the purpose of metaphysics is to ask questions: Why are we here? Where are we going after we die? (and so on), and that you are not allowed to answer the questions. Asking the questions is the point for metaphysics but answering them is not because once you answer them you cross the line into religion. He doesn't really say why but the answer as to 'why' is obvious: because any answer is an opinion. It may be a good opinion, or a bad one, but it's only what the person who wrote the opinion believes. Such opinions cannot be validated, e.g., you can't ask the.
Metaphysics - Metaphysics Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy. It is notoriously difficult to define, but for purposes of briefly introducing it to nonphilosophers, it can be identified as the study of any of the most fundamental concepts and beliefs, on which many other concepts and beliefs rest--concepts such as being, existence, universal, property, relation, causation, space, time, event, and many others. Part of the trouble with defining metaphysics lies in how much the field has changed since it first received its name by Aristotle's editors centuries ago. (See below for an explanation of what metaphysics first meant.). Problems that were not originally considered metaphysical were added to metaphysics. Other problems that were for centuries considered metaphysical problems are now typically relegated to their own separate subheadings in.
Metaphysics of Quality - Metaphysics of Quality The Metaphysics of Quality is a theory about reality espoused by popular author Robert M. Pirsig in his two books, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values and Lila: An Inquiry into Morals. It asks questions such as what is real, what is good, and what is moral, and it comes up with some surprising conclusions about our lives and existence. As the title of Pirsig's first book suggests, much of the MOQ has to do with a non-intellectual Zen-like view of the universe. Yet Pirsig departs from mysticism by arguing that reason and logic are just as important in seeking understanding. Pirsig is not the first author to try and bridge the gap between science and mysticism, however.
Metaphysics of presence - Metaphysics of presence The concept of the metaphysics of presence is a key component of deconstruction in Continental philosophy. The deconstructive interpretation holds that the entire history of Western philosophy has emphasized the desire for immediate access to meaning, and thus built a metaphysics around the privileging of presence over absence. Deconstructive thinkers describe their task as the questioning or deconstruction of this metaphysical tendency in philosophy. This argument is strongly influenced by the work of Martin Heidegger, who made similar claims in essays such as Identity and Difference. Friedrich Nietzsche is a more distant, but clear, influence as well. See also: deconstruction -- metaphysics -- Jacques Derrida -- Martin Heidegger -- continental philosophy.
Karl Ludwig Michelet - spent his life in defending and continuing the Hegelian tradition. His first notable work was the System der philosophischen Moral (Berlin, 1828), an examination of the ethical theory of responsibility. In 1836 he published, in Paris, a treatise on the Metaphysics of Aristotle, written in French and crowned by the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. He wrote also two other treatises on Aristotle. Nikomachische Ethik (2nd ed., 1848) and Die Ethik des Aristoteles in ihrem Verhältniss zum System der Moral (1827). His own views are best expressed in his Vorlesungen über die Persönlichkeit Gottes (1841) and Die Epiphanie der ewigen Persönlichkeit des Gottes. The philosophical theology developed in these works has been described as a "Neo-Christian Spiritualism." Among his other publications may be mentioned Geschichte der letzten Systeme der Philos..
Kegon - those of the esoteric school 密教, and Gyōnen 凝然, who is most responsible for the establishment of the Tōdaiji lineage of Kegon. The most important philosophical contributions of the Huayan school were in the area of its metaphysics, as it taught the doctrine of the mutual containment and interpenetration of all phenomena shishiwuai 事事無礙: that one thing contains all things in existence, and that all things contain one. External Link Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest").
Korean Buddhism - the introduction of Buddhism into Goguryeo is 372, with the dispatch of the monk Sundo (Ch. Shundao) by Fujian to the court of Sosurim with scriptures and Buddhist images. Shortly afterward, in 384, the Serindian monk Maranant'a (Mālānanda) arrived to Baekje from the Eastern Chin. Due to Silla's relatively isolated geographical location, the official date for its reception of Buddhism was a bit later, most likely during the fifth century. But since there is evidence that the significance of these early Chinese Buddhist missions into Korea was well understood by the Koreans in advance, it is commonly assumed that Buddhism was known to these regions well before these official dates. Although there is evidence for the existence of Sarvāstivāda, Cheontae (Ch. Tiantai) and Satyasiddhi (Ch. Chengshi) studies during this early period,.
Kuzari - negative, which last class comprises all the essential attributes expressing mere negations. The question of attributes being closely connected with that of anthropomorphism, Judah enters into a lengthy discussion on this point. Although opposed to the conception of the corporeality of God, as being contrary to Scripture, he would consider it wrong to reject all the sensuous concepts of anthropomorphism, as there is something in these ideas which fills the human soul with the awe of God. The remainder of the essay comprises dissertations on the following subjects: the excellence of Palestine, the land of prophecy, which is to other countries what the Jews are to other nations; the sacrifices; the arrangement of the Tabernacle, which, according to Judah, symbolizes the human body; the prominent spiritual position occupied by Israel, whose.
James McCosh - William Hamilton, for an essay on Stoicism. He became a minister of the Established Church of Scotland, first at Arbroath and then at Brechin, and took part in the Free Church movement of 1843. In 1852 he was appointed professor of logic and metaphysics in Queen's College, Belfast; and in 1868 was chosen president and professor of philosophy of the college of Princeton University. He resigned the presidency in 1888, but continued as lecturer on philosophy till his death. He was most successful in college administration, a good lecturer and an effective preacher. His general philosophical attitude and method were Hamiltonian; he insisted on separating religious and philosophical data from the merely physical, and though not an original thinker, he clearly restated and used the conclusions of others. In his controversial.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore - off since 1972. The band's sole recording project in the early 70s was barely distributed. It has since been acknowledged, through Rounder's 1991 reissue, (More a Legend Than a Band) as a milestone of progressive, alternative country. The three friends continue to reunite for occasional Flatlanders performances, with an eye toward a very overdue followup album. Gilmore spent much of the 70s in a Denver, Colorado Ashram studying metaphysics. In the 1980s he moved to Austin, and finally made his solo debut (Jimmy Dale Gilmore) in 1988, to great critical acclaim. For many listeners the chief pleasure of Gilmore's records is his fine tenor voice, which delivers expressive pure country singing. Others find find it hard to get used to. In an age when country singers are hard to tell apart,.
Johannes Bessarion - of hooks and manuscripts, and by his own writings, to spread abroad the new learning. He held in succession the archbishopnic of Siponto and the bishoprics of Sabina and Frascati. In 1463 he received the title of Latin patriarch of Constantinople; and it was only on account of his Greek birth that he was not elevated to the papal chair. For five years (1450-1455) he was legate at Bologna, and he was engaged on embassies to many foreign princes, among others to Louis XI of France in 1471. Vexation at an insult offered him by Louis is said to have hastened his death, which took place on November 19 1472, at Ravenna. Bessarion was one of the most learned scholars of his time. Besides his translations of Aristotle's Metaphysics and Xenophon's.
Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch - Harmonie der Evangelien, and in 1750 was appointed professor extraordinarius of theology. Five years later he became professor ordinarius of logic and metaphysics; in 1759 he exchanged this for a professorship of rhetoric and poetry. Amongst his theological works were Dissertationes in Acta Apostolorum (1756-1761); Antiquitales symbolicae (1772); and after his death appeared Observationes in Matthaeum ex Graecis inscriptionibus (1779). He also published a periodical Der Naturforscher (1774-1778), and during the years 1749-1756 took an active part in editing the Zeitungen von gelehrten Sachen. This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica..
Johannes Jacobus Poortman - Sorbonne in Paris and in Vienna. From 1932 to 1938 he was member of the Council of the Dutch Society for Psychical Research. From 1958 to 1966 he was a Professor of metaphysics at the University of Leiden. After he retired his chair was successively occupied by Prof. Dubbink and Prof. Van Vledder. Poortman was the maker of the Repertory of Dutch philosophers, Repertorium der Nederlandse Wijsbegeerte, which can be consulted on line at the site of the Leiden University. He formulated the idea of a hylic pluralism in Dutch hylisch pluralisme of the plurality of matter, a model of the universe in which science and metaphysics are no longer contradictory. This vision was explained in his four volume work, Vehicles of Consciousness. Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide") 1 Poortmans categories 2.
Johann Christoph Gottsched - a well-known poet and also president of the Deutschübende poetische Gesellschaft in Leipzig. Of this society Gottsched was elected "Senior" in 1726, and in the next year reorganized it under the title of the Deutsche Gesellschaft. In 1730 he was appointed extraordinary professor of poetry, and, in 1734, ordinary professor of logic and metaphysics in the university. He died at Leipzig. Gottsched's chief work was his Versuch einer kritischen Dichtkunst für die Deutschen (1730), the first systematic treatise in German on the art of poetry from the standpoint of Boileau. His Ausführliche Redekunst (1728) and his Grundlegung einer deutschen Sprachkunst (1748) were of importance for the development of German style and the purification of the language. He wrote several plays, of which Der sterbende Cato (1732), an adaptation of Addison's tragedy.
John Veitch - was assistant lecturer successively to Sir William Hamilton and Alexander Campbell Fraser (1856-60). In 1860 he was appointed to the chair of logic, metaphysics and rhetoric at St Andrews, and in 1864 to the corresponding chair at Glasgow. In philosophy an intuitionist, he dismissed the idealist arguments with some abruptness, and thereby lost much of the influence gained by the force of his personal character. He will be remembered chiefly for his work on Border literature and antiquities. See Memoir by his niece, Mary RL Bryce (1896). Publications translations of Descartes' Discours de la méthode (1850) and Méditationes (1852) an edition of Sir W Hamilton's lectures with memoir (1869, in collaboration with HL Mansel) Tweed, and other Poems (1875) History and Poetry of the Scottish Border (1877; ed. 1893) Institutes of.
Jonathan Lowe - born in the U.K., educated at the University of Cambridge, 1968-72, and the University of Oxford, 1972-75. His main areas of research and publication are in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophical logic, and the history of early modern philosophy. Publications Kinds of Being: A Study of Individuation, Identity and the Logic of Sortal Terms (Oxford: Blackwell, 1989) Locke on Human Understanding (London: Routledge, 1995) Subjects of Experience (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996) The Possibility of Metaphysics (Oxford: Oxford university Press, 1998) Numerous articles in journals..
John Haugeland - for a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. In Artificial Intelligence: The Very Idea, Haugeland coined the term GOFAI, which stands for Good Old Fashioned Artificial Intelligence, describing, loosely, the Artificial Intelligence research techniques of the 1970s and before and in the perceptions of mind. Books Having Thought: Essays in the Metaphysics of Mind (1998). Harvard University Press. Artificial Intelligence: The Very Idea (1985). Cambridge, Massachusets: Bradford/MIT Press. Mind Design (1981) (editor). Bradford/MIT Press Mind Design II Second Edition (1997) (editor). MIT Press Rationality and Theory Choice (forthcoming) (Haugeland, J and Conant, J, eds.). University of Chicago Press..
