The Problem of Existence.

By:

Witherall, Arthur

Material type: Text

TextSeries: Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Philosophy SeriesPublisher: Oxford : Taylor & Francis Group, 2002Copyright date: ©2002Edition: 1st edDescription: 1 online resource (165 pages)Content type:

text

Media type:

computer

Carrier type:

online resource

ISBN:

9781351883559

Subject(s):

Ontology

Genre/Form:

Electronic books.

Additional physical formats: Print version:: The Problem of ExistenceDDC classification:

111/.1

LOC classification:

2002103822

Online resources:

Click to View

Contents:

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Dedication -- 1 The Fundamental Question of Metaphysics -- 2 The Deflationary Response -- 3 Necessitarian Answers -- 4 Ultimate Values -- 5 The Gift of Being -- Index.

Summary: This book explores the question of why there is something instead of nothing. Several responses to this question are possible, but only some of them address the question seriously, respecting its emotional aspects as well as its cognitive dimension. The author carefully distinguishes those answers that are truly satisfactory, in both respects, from those that are inadequate. It can be argued that the existence of the world has no explanation at all, or that there is a necessary being whose existence is self-explanatory, or that the world exists because it has value. Each kind of response is defensible to some degree, and it is argued that where they are defensible, they have a common content. Incorporating aspects of both the 'analytical' and 'continental' traditions, this book also responds to several historical philosophers concerned with these questions, including Plato, Leibniz, Kant and Nietzsche.

Tags from this library: No tags from this library for this title. Log in to add tags.

Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

No physical items for this record

This book explores the question of why there is something instead of nothing. Several responses to this question are possible, but only some of them address the question seriously, respecting its emotional aspects as well as its cognitive dimension. The author carefully distinguishes those answers that are truly satisfactory, in both respects, from those that are inadequate. It can be argued that the existence of the world has no explanation at all, or that there is a necessary being whose existence is self-explanatory, or that the world exists because it has value. Each kind of response is defensible to some degree, and it is argued that where they are defensible, they have a common content. Incorporating aspects of both the 'analytical' and 'continental' traditions, this book also responds to several historical philosophers concerned with these questions, including Plato, Leibniz, Kant and Nietzsche.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.

There are no comments on this title.

to post a comment.