04474nam 2200649 a 450 991077821970332120200520144314.01-282-15839-297866121583911-4008-2534-210.1515/9781400825349(CKB)1000000000788515(EBL)457914(OCoLC)436057798(SSID)ssj0000138344(PQKBManifestationID)11129901(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000138344(PQKBWorkID)10100467(PQKB)10259409(MdBmJHUP)muse36358(DE-B1597)446319(OCoLC)1054880878(OCoLC)979757679(DE-B1597)9781400825349(Au-PeEL)EBL457914(CaPaEBR)ebr10312527(CaONFJC)MIL215839(MiAaPQ)EBC457914(EXLCZ)99100000000078851520011210d2002 uy 0engur|n|---|||||txtccrThe dialectic of essence[electronic resource] a study of Plato's metaphysics /Allan SilvermanCourse BookPrinceton, N.J. Princeton University Pressc20021 online resource (407 p.)Description based upon print version of record.0-691-09178-1 0-691-09179-X Includes bibliographical references (p. [367]-377) and index.Introduction : The dialectic of essence ; Precis of the chapters -- 1. An overview of Platonic metaphysics : The philosophical background ; Forms ; Particulars ; Metaphysics and epistemology -- 2. Socratic metaphysics? : Socrates ; The craft analogy ; Socratic properties ; Metaphysical conjectures ; The Meno -- 3. The emergence of forms : The Phaedo ; The final argument ; The Republic ; Book VII ; Being and participation -- 4. Refining the theory of forms : Overview ; The Parmenides ; The first part ; The first two hypotheses ; Separation -- 5. Forms and language : Overview ; Background to the argument of the Sophist ; The Sophist ; The interweaving of forms -- 6. Not-beings : Overview ; Not-being in the Sophist: the background to 255e ; Sophist 255e8-257a7 ; Sophist 257a8-259b5 ; Sophist 263a-s63b4 ; Collection and division --7. The nature of material particulars : Overview ; The Philebus ; The mixed life ; The fourfold ontology (23c-27c) ; The end of Philebus ; The Timaeus ' Talk of phenomena in flux ; Necessity and matter ; The two theories ; Conclusion -- Conclusion -- Appendix.The Dialectic of Essence offers a systematic new account of Plato's metaphysics. Allan Silverman argues that the best way to make sense of the metaphysics as a whole is to examine carefully what Plato says about ousia (essence) from the Meno through the middle period dialogues, the Phaedo and the Republic, and into several late dialogues including the Parmenides, the Sophist, the Philebus, and the Timaeus. This book focuses on three fundamental facets of the metaphysics: the theory of Forms; the nature of particulars; and Plato's understanding of the nature of metaphysical inquiry. Silverman seeks to show how Plato conceives of "Being" as a unique way in which an essence is related to a Form. Conversely, partaking ("having") is the way in which a material particular is related to its properties: Particulars, thus, in an important sense lack essence. Additionally, the author closely analyzes Plato's idea that the relation between Forms and particulars is mediated by form-copies. Even when some late dialogues provide a richer account of particulars, Silverman maintains that particulars are still denied essence. Indeed, with the Timaeus's introduction of the receptacle, there are no particulars of the traditional variety. This book cogently demonstrates that when we understand that Plato's concern with essence lies at the root of his metaphysics, we are better equipped to find our way through the labyrinth of his dialogues and to better appreciate how they form a coherent theory.MetaphysicsHistoryMetaphysicsHistory.110/.92Silverman Allan Jay1567724MiAaPQMiAaPQMiAaPQBOOK9910778219703321The dialectic of essence3839325UNINA