Title: First Philosophy Last Philosophy: Western Knowledge between Metaphysics and the Sciences
Publisher: Polity
Publication Date: 2024
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1509560521
ISBN 13: 9781509560523
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

What is at stake in that form of inquiry that the western philosophical tradition has called “first philosophy” or “metaphysics”? Is it an abstract, now outmoded branch of philosophy, or does it address a problem that is still of great interest – namely the unity of western knowledge?

In fact, metaphysics is “first” only in relation to the other two sciences that Aristotle called “theoretical”: the study of nature (phusikē) and mathematics. It is the strategic sense of this “primacy” that needs to be examined, because what is at issue here is nothing less than the relationship – of domination or subservience, conflict or harmony – between philosophy and science. The hypothesis of this book is that philosophy’s attempt to use metaphysics as a way of securing primacy among the sciences has resulted instead in its subservience: philosophy, once handmaiden to theology (ancilla theologiae), has now become more or less consciously handmaiden to the sciences (ancilla scientiarum). So it is all the more urgent to explore the nature and limits of this primacy and subservience, which is what the present book does through an archaeological investigation of metaphysics.

This important rereading of the western philosophical tradition by a leading thinker will be of interest to students and scholars in philosophy, critical theory and the humanities more generally, and to anyone interested in contemporary philosophy and European thought.

About the Author

Giorgio Agamben is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Venice.
Zakiya Hanafi is an independent scholar based in Seattle, Washington.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We carry a wide selection of books from South Asia, United States, UK.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Readingos GmbH
Kaiserstra�e 47, Frankfurt am Main, 60329, Germany

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Shipping Terms

To ensure faster delivery, books may be shipped from any of the following locations Germany, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), based on the buyer's address and product availability.

Shipping rates from Germany to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from Germany to U.S.A.
Order quantity	25 to 45 business days	8 to 14 business days
First item	US$ 11.64	US$ 21.88

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.