Real Essentialism (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy) - Hardcover

Book 5 of 207: Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy

David S. Oderberg

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9780415323642: Real Essentialism (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy)
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0415323649 ISBN 13: 9780415323642
Publisher: Routledge, 2008

Synopsis

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.

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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.

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Publisher
Routledge
Publication date
2008
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0415323649
ISBN 13 
9780415323642
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
314
Rating
  • 4.29 out of 5 stars
    68 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780415872126: Real Essentialism (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. 11)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  041587212X ISBN 13:  9780415872126
Publisher: Routledge, 2008
Softcover