Order in Multiplicity by Christopher Shields

Order in Multiplicity by Christopher Shields

Aristotle attaches particular significance to the homonymy of many central concepts in philosophy and science: that is, to the diversity of ways of being common to a single general concept. His preoccupation with homonymy influences his approach to almost every subject that he considers, and it clearly structures the philosophical methodology that he employs both when criticizing others and when advancing his own positive theories. Where there is homonymy there is multiplicity: Aristotle aims to find the order within this multiplicity, and believes that doing so is crucial to scientific inquiry and philosophical progress.Christopher Shields investigates and evaluates Aristotle's approach to questions about homonymy, characterizing the metaphysical and semantic commitments necessary to establish the homonymy of a given concept. Then, in a series of case-studies, Shields examines in detail some of Aristotle's principal applications of homonymy--to the body, sameness and oneness, life, goodness, and being. Shields's aim is not only to give a fuller understanding of Aristotle's methodology and to illuminate his specific doctrines in a variety of areas, but to show that this methodology remains fruitful today.

This volume is quite helpful and makes a significant contribution to contemporary Aristotelian studies* Religious Studies Review *
Shields...illuminates and technically formalizes an aspect of ancient dialectics, if not also some small corner of a more profound puzzle of language. * Choice *
In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Shields provides....a taxonomy of homonymy which shall be of great benefit to scholars wanting to pursue research on certain key Aristotelian concepts, such as 'justice,' 'friendship,' and 'cause'. * Ethics *
This volume is quite helpful and makes a significant contribution to contemporary Aristotelian studies. * Religious Studies Review *
Shields...illuminates and technically formalizes an aspect of ancient dialectics, if not also some small corner of a more profound puzzle of language. * Choice *

Christopher Shields is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780199253074
ISBN 10	0199253072
Title	Order in Multiplicity
Author	Christopher Shields
Series	Oxford Aristotle Studies Series
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Year published	2002-09-05
Number of pages	304
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.