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Real Essentialism (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. 11), by David S. Oderberg
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Real Essentialism presents a comprehensive defence of neo-Aristotelian essentialism. Do objects have essences? Must they be the kinds of things they are in spite of the changes they undergo? Can we know what things are really like – can we define and classify reality? Many, if not most, philosophers doubt this, influenced by centuries of empiricism, and by the anti-essentialism of Wittgenstein, Quine, Popper, and other thinkers. Real Essentialism reinvigorates the tradition of realist, essentialist metaphysics, defending the reality and knowability of essence, the possibility of objective, immutable definition, and its relevance to contemporary scientific and metaphysical issues such as whether essence transcends physics and chemistry, the essence of life, the nature of biological species, and the nature of the person.
- Sales Rank: #549437 in Books
- Published on: 2008-01-30
- Released on: 2009-06-11
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.21" h x .75" w x 6.14" l, 1.03 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 314 pages
Review
'[Real Essentialism] presents vigorous and wide-ranging arguments in defense of an Aristotelian metaphysical scheme … This book puts forward many unfashionable views. But it argues for them with vigor and erudition.' – Crawford L. Elder, Analysis Reviews
'Oderberg … exemplifies the unfortunately rare combination in analytical philosophy of rigorous and historically informed argumentation …This book places hylomorphism squarely on the table for discussion.' – Sebastian Rehnman, Review of Metaphysics
'a major intellectual achievement....I can particularly recommend, for those interested in such matters--as many metaphysicians presently are--his very well informed discussion of powers and laws of nature, which raises important objections to many current accounts of these.' -E.J. Lowe, The Philosophical Quarterly
"...there can be no doubt that this learned and rigorous work deserves a wide readership."--Edward Feser, Faith and Philosophy
From the Author
Real Essentialism sets out a system of realist metaphysics in the Aristotelian tradition, applying it to fundamental metaphysical and scientific problems. First, the theory is contrasted with the contemporary essentialism of Saul Kripke, Hilary Putnam, and their followers, which is shown to be inadequate to the task of justifying real, objective, knowable essences. Next, the book criticizes the anti-essentialism of Locke, Quine, Wittgenstein, and Popper. After a further defence of the reality and knowability of essence, the system of real essentialism is laid out, beginning with a defence of hylemorphism - prime matter and substantial form as the foundation of essence. There follows an account of substance, classification, individuation, and identity. Essence and existence, powers, and laws of nature are then analyzed, followed by properties, artefacts, and origins. The book concludes by applying real essentialism in great depth to three central problems at the interface of science and metaphysics: the nature of life, the reality of biological species, and the essence of the person.
Real Essentialism has as its underlying idea the view that traditional metaphysics is relevant to contemporary philosophy and science. It is not an outmoded relic of pre-Enlightenment thinking, but a vital and reasonable way of solving perennial philosophical problems as well as many of the foundational and methodological questions thrown up by contemporary science. Hylemorphism, long discarded as an Aristotelian relic, is again brought to the forefront of metaphysical thinking. In particular, the doctrine of substantial forms, for centuries rejected outright by the overwhelming majority of philosophers, is rehabilitated. Hylemorphism may have been tossed aside, but for no good reason other than historical prejudice. Its critics can be answered, as can anti-essentialists in general. The system of Aristotelian taxonomy, never fully abandoned by scientists but long suspected of inadequacy, especially in biology, is defended in a way that has not been done for a long time. Real Essentialism puts traditional metaphysics back in its rightful place at the centre of philosophical and scientific thinking. It will be of interest to professional philosophers and scientists alike, especially those working in metaphysics and biology.
About the Author
David S. Oderberg is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Reading. He has published many books and articles in metaphysics, philosophical logic, ethics, philosophy of religion, and other subjects.
Most helpful customer reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful.
Superb contemporary defense of Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics
By Deya S.
This book should be required reading for professional philosophers and serious students of philosophy.
Professor Oderberg's book presents a serious, erudite, rigorously argued, very well-documented and detailed contemporary defense and explanation of the Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics.
If you think (like I did, some time ago) that the metaphysical ideas of Aristotle and Aquinas are a silly and naive product of the scientific ignorance of the times of their writings, then you'll discover (after close reading Oderberg's book) how much ill-informed you are. When I read this book, I already knew that most criticisms of the Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics were based on misunderstandings of the critics. But after I read it, I confirmed that the case for an Aristotlian-Thomistic metaphysics is very hard to refute indeed; and certainly, the common and well-known criticisms against it don't affect it at all, as you can judge by yourself.
Dr.Oderberg's command of the relevant metaphysical literature on contemporary analytic philosophy and his knowledge of Aristotelian Thomistic philosophy, makes this book a philosophical masterpiece.
I'd dare to say this book is one of the best books on philosophy that I've ever read, and probably the best book defending the Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics in print.
If you're a serious truth-seeker, philosopher or student of philosophy, you have to read and STUDY Dr.Oderberg's excellent book.
You won't be dissapointed.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful.
Essential (from) Reading
By merjet
An in-depth treatment of essence is not very common, so the book -- by a professor at the University of Reading in England -- was interesting. I agreed with part, though not near all.
Chapter 1 - Contemporary essentialism and real essentialism.
Since about 1970 essentialism has received more attention from philosophers than the previous few centuries. However, the modern versions significantly differ from the real essentialism endorsed by Oderberg and deriving from Aristotle and Aquinas. In his view the modern version is too much concerned with reductionism. Real essentialism is concerned not just with internal structure and an emphasis on quantity, but the unity of objects. It holds that qualitative characteristics are equally a part of ontology. The broader perspective is needed to address the essence of a statue or immaterial things.
Chapter 2 - Some varieties of anti-essentialism.
Oderberg addresses the views of empiricists (mainly Locke), Quine, Popper, and Wittgenstein. His presentation of Locke is one-sided. While Locke criticized real essentialism, at least for substances (Aristotle's meaning), he gave an account of nominal essence that Oderberg omitted entirely.
Chapter 3 - The reliability and knowability of essence.
Real essentialism is based on two aspects of unity. First, there is the unity of multiple entities that fall under the same kinds. Second, there is the unity of a concrete particular, especially a substance such as a man or gold. How can we account for a unified, characteristic repertoire of behavior, operations, and functions of a single integral entity? How do we account for something persisting that undergoes change?
Chapter 4 - The structure of essence.
He introduces hylemorphism (it is spelled with "e" instead of "o" in England?). Every finite material body is a compound of act and potency. Potency may be active or passive. He discusses substantial form. Actuality is to be understood as form, and potentiality as matter. Per Oderberg prime matter underlies all kinds of matter and has no form or essence. This goes beyond what Aristotle said, but maybe not beyond Aquinas. It is also rather strange, as he also says prime matter is never without some form and completely undifferentiated. The latter conflicts with the history of discovery in physics and chemistry, unless it is held that prime matter is imaginary but not real. He defends substance against trope theory. Substances are a compound of prime matter and substantial form.
Chapter 5 - Essence and identity.
This chapter is more about genus-species and classification. There is also a section on individuation. Every substance is a compound of matter and form. The dominant hylemorphic view is that form is the universal part, giving to each thing that shares it, its particular essence. Matter must be the principle of diversity. However, this seems to go against the claim that prime matter is not the principle of individuation. He spends pages trying to address the apparent inconsistency, in my view not very successfully. He also addresses identity over time.
Chapter 6 - Essence and existence.
This is about the debate of whether the essence/existence distinction is real or conception, powers, and laws of nature.
Chapter 7 - Aspects of essence.
He moves on to essences of other than substances, especially properties. We gain knowledge of essences via properties. He addresses jade and topaz, which are real examples somewhat like Hilary Putnam's famous water (or Twin Earth) example.
Chapter 8 - Life.
What is the essence of life? In essentialist terms, metabolism, growth, and reproduction stand out. He rejects vitalism and abiogenesis. Life forms are immaterial, like all forms and universals.
Chapter 9 - Species, biological and metaphysical.
This is about categorizing species in a hierarchy. The essentialist hierarchy, based on similar properties, i.e. morpohology, has been challenged by categorizing by evolutionary descent, especially cladistics. He thinks essence is determined by form, not a cluster of properties. A prominent argument against essentialism in biology is its vagueness, usually based on intermediate and transitional species. He argues that holding that an essence could be vague is tantamount to denying essence altogether. That is an astonishing charge. He writes, "in some cases, belief in metaphysical vagueness is no more than a projection onto the world of our incomplete grasp of essence". So why doesn't he charge classifying by metaphysical essence with vagueness, too?
Chapter 10 - The person.
What is the essence of personhood? He posits hylemorphic dualism. Divergences from Aristotle's ideas and toward typical religious ideas are clear. A dog's soul is wholly material but a human soul is wholly immaterial. A human soul is immortal. Consciousness is addressed.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Comprehensive explication of Aristotelian metaphysics
By Alfredo Watkins
In recent years, some philosophers, such as Kit Fine, E.J. Lowe, have been re-investigating an Aristotelian conception of metaphysics. This ultimately is rooted in the study of the "essence" of things. David Oderberg presents his own explanation of Aristotelian metaphysics and some of the things it entails. Oderberg deals preliminarily with modality, how this relates to modern problems (e.g. "possible worlds"), then replies to some objections against the concept of essences. Oderberg then continues to draw out conclusions and explain in clear terms such seemingly obscure things as essence, form, prime matter, analogy, being, species, genus, nature, etc. Important issues, such as the relation between evolutionary theory and the idea of necessary essences are discussed. The only thing that may have made this book better would have been if Oderberg mentioned a little bit more about science and philosophy of physics. Oderberg *does* talk about philosophy of biology, which may be somewhat more pertinent. Ultimately, Oderberg presents for an analytic audience a clear and concise enunciation of some central ideas in Aristotelian metaphysics.
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