3 Review(s)

The Metaphysics by Aristotle is a philosophical text that examines fundamental questions about existence, God, form, matter, and change. Summary Of The Book Aristotle’s The Metaphysics is a large philosophical collection of 14 books. Aristotle’s philosophy became the central branch for Western philosophical thought. Aristotle’s metaphysics grew out a reaction against Plato’s idealist doctrine. Aristotle was always concerned with natural phenomena. As a result, he wrote The Metaphysics which combined the rational and natural aspects of the universe. Aristotle’s principal subject is “being understood as being”. His philosophy asserts that something can be asserted about a thing because it exists, and not because that thing has special traits. The entire collection of texts, are centered around principal questions such as what it means to exist, what kinds of things exist in this world, and how can beings continue to exist when they undergo change in the world. The first six books in The Metaphysics deal with concepts such as the principal cause of things, how humans acquire wisdom, problems with philosophy, contradiction principles, definitions of key terms, and the hierarchy of sciences. Books 7, 8, and 9, examine concepts such as the essence of being, substance, and the nature of being a human being. Aristotle also discusses at length, concepts such potentiality and actuality. Books 10 to 14, address the philosophy of Mathematics, unity, and provide further commentaries on the concept of god. Aristotle’s The Metaphysics is considered to be one of the the greatest philosophical works. In Lawson-Tancred’s translation of The Metaphysics, readers will find an introductory essay that highlights the central themes of the philosophy of metaphysics. This edition of The Metaphysics was published in 1998, by Penguin Classics. About Aristotle Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, and the founder of the metaphysical branch of philosophy. He wrote several treatises during his lifetime. Some of these were Politics, Physics, The Art Of Rhetoric, The Nicomachean Ethics, and Poetics. Aristotle was the Head at the Royal Academy in Macedon. He had many notable people under his tutelage such as Alexander, Cassander, and Ptolemy. Aristotle was interested in learning about all things natural. As a result, he wrote many treatises on topics such as astronomy, embryology, literature, and foreign customs. At one point in his life, Aristotle established his own school, known as Lyceum. He wrote on numerous topics like linguistics, music, physics, logic, biology, zoology, and on the government. Aristotle had been married twice, and had a son named Nicomachus. He died in 322 BC from natural causes. The Aristotle Mountains, a group of mountains in Graham Land, Antarctica were named in his honor.