The Meaning of Something: Rethinking the Logic and the Unity of the Ontology

This innovative volume investigates the meaning of 'something' in different recent philosophical traditions to rethink the logic and unity of ontology, comparing these views to earlier significative accounts. The revival of interest in 'something' in the 19th and 20th centuries and contemporary philosophy allows for asking the question: what is there? without predefined speculative assumptions. The issue about 'something' is treated in two main contemporary philosophical trends: 'material ontology' and 'formal ontology', which aim to take inventory of what there is and analyze its structural features. The volume advances cutting-edge debates on what is the first and most general item in ontology, that is, 'something', due to its non-nothingness and otherness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This groundbreaking volume delves into the profound exploration of the concept of "something" across various contemporary philosophical traditions, aiming to reexamine the foundations of ontology and its unity. By comparing these views to earlier significant accounts in the history of philosophy, it seeks to shed light on the meaning of existence and the nature of reality.

The revival of interest in "something" in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as in contemporary philosophy, can be attributed to its unique capacity to ask the fundamental question: "What is there?" without being bound by predefined speculative assumptions. This issue about "something" avoids any simplistic approach to the question of what exists, prompting two primary contemporary philosophical trends: "material ontology," which aims to comprehensively inventory all that exists, encompassing everything that is; and "formal ontology," which analyzes the structural characteristics of all that exists, regardless of its nature.

Within these trends, the volume forefronts cutting-edge discussions on the most fundamental item in ontology, namely, "something." The essence of "something" lies in its non-nothingness and otherness, which define its relationality with other beings. By examining the relevant features of the conceptual core of "something," the volume unravels the profound implications of this concept for understanding the nature of existence and the diversity of the world.

This innovative volume serves as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers in phenomenology, analytic philosophy, formal and material ontology, as well as traditional metaphysics. By engaging in a rigorous exploration of the concept of "something," it contributes to the ongoing dialogue between different philosophical traditions and offers new insights into the complex tapestry of ontological inquiry.

Weight: 512g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031096099
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022