The ultimate why question : why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever?

Bibliographic Information

The ultimate why question : why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever?

edited by John F. Wippel

(Studies in philosophy and the history of philosophy, v. 54)

Catholic University of America Press, c2011

  • : cloth

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Includes bibliographical references and indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This volume gathers studies by prominent scholars and philosophers about the question how have major figures from the history of philosophy, and some contemporary philosophers, addressed ""the ultimate why question"": why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever? The authors take this question seriously, striving to go beyond accounting for the present state of reality as distinguished from a prior or subsequent state, to the more profound question of discerning why anything whatsoever exists. The responses are varied: Lloyd P. Gerson considers Greek philosophy, and May Sim examines Chinese philosophy. Jon McGinnis explores a leading medieval Muslim philosopher, Avicenna, and volume editor John F. Wippel explores a leading medieval Christian philosopher, Thomas Aquinas. These chapters are followed by four responses from the modern period: Tad M. Schmaltz on Descartes; Daniel Dahlstrom on Leibniz, especially as he is understood by Heidegger; Edward C. Halper on Hegel; and, finally, Holger Zaborowski on F. W. J. Schelling. The final section of the book contains personal responses proposed by three contemporary thinkers who have addressed the problem in very different ways--Robert Cummings Neville, Brian Martine, and Nicholas Rescher. Readers will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of an issue that has taxed the ingenuity of many philosophers through the centuries and continues to intrigue many thinkers today.

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Details
  • NCID
    BB06933864
  • ISBN
    • 9780813218632
  • LCCN
    2010053924
  • Country Code
    us
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Washington, D.C.
  • Pages/Volumes
    vii, 261 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
  • Parent Bibliography ID
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