Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Metaphysical philosophy'
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Feeney, Thomas D. "Leibniz on Metaphysical Perfection." Thesis, Yale University, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10584944.
Full textLeibniz makes substantive use of harmony and metaphysical perfection, but he very rarely offers more than a brief gloss in direct explanation of these terms. I argue that they name the same fundamental property. The definition of metaphysical perfection (hereafter, "perfection") as unity-in-variety misleads if taken as a reduction of perfection to separately necessary and jointly sufficient conditions for anything to enjoy perfection. The definition of harmony in terms of intelligibility leads to the same underlying notion, for intelligibility is defined in terms of unity and variety.
Chapter 1 introduces the tension between Leibniz's substantive use of perfection and his demand that it meet a high standard of intelligibility. Chapter 2 argues that there is no satisfactory account of compossibility in the literature because each of the viable proposals misunderstands the role of perfection. The current dispute rests in a disagreement about the best reductive account of perfection: either to sheer variety, or to variety and unity as independently intelligible but inversely proportional criteria for perfection. Either way, incompossibility relations become externally applied limits on God's will to maximize the variety of existing substances. Leibniz rejects all such external limits. I propose a new solution, in which two possibles are compossible if and only if they are jointly thinkable, that is, if they are members of an ideal unity. This involves a distinction between the variety that does contribute to unity and the variety that does not—and this distinction requires that we already have some notion of perfection prior to the appeal to variety.
Chapter 3 develops this account of perfection and incompossibility further, by introducing another puzzle God aims to create the most perfect world, but worlds are aggregates and aggregates seem to rank too low in Leibniz's ontology to explain God's aim. What is the world that God would care for it? God, being wise, does not and would not will multiple times in creating. Rather, God creates multiple substances through a single act of will. Acts of creative will, though, are individuated by the agent's concept of the object. This suggests that groups of substances are unified into worlds by God's intellect thinking of their many essences under a single idea. This is Leibniz's limited Spinozism: he is a metaphysical atomist about existing things, but a holist about the ideal and its value.
Chapters 4 and 5 tell the story of how Leibniz came to these views. The narrative is helpful in part because it sheds some light on Leibniz's motivations. Also, I argue that the mistakes common to recent approaches to compossibility have textual support only from premature versions of Leibniz's account of perfection, versions Leibniz rejected in part because they generate the problems discussed in Chapters 2 and 3.
Chapter 4 explores Leibniz's transition to philosophical maturity in the later 167os. He gave priority to the divine intellect throughout his career, but in the Paris Period, he left no work for the will at all: to exist is to be harmonious, and the existence of finite things depends directly on the divine intellect. This theory had theodicean advantages, but it also led to a necessitarianism just as absolute as Spinoza's. After studying Spinoza and leaving Paris, Leibniz placed the divine will between existence and harmony, or perfection. Perfection and harmony were now associated with God's ideas; coming to exist required, in addition, an act of God's will.
Having associated harmony with the possibles in God's mind, Leibniz now needed to explain why God does not maximize perfection by creating every substance. Chapter 5 deals with the gradual development after 1678, as Leibniz worked out how to determine the joint value of many independent substances. Just as previously he had separated existence from harmony while retaining a close connection between the two, the mature Leibniz distinguished harmony from the possible substances in God's mind. Harmony and perfection, on this final account, belong even to aggregates, which count as unities thanks only to their relation to a mind. With this in hand, Leibniz was finally in a position to argue that God leaves some possibles uncreated in order the maximize the perfection of what God does create.
Leibniz defended his commitment to a harmoniously limited, intelligible world by gradually distinguishing perfection from existence and from substantiality. Likewise, we profit by distinguishing Leibnizian perfection from (apparently) more accessible notions.
Smith, Steven. "Metaphysical realism and moral realism." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.358535.
Full textHandel, James. "On content and metaphysical structure." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.311329.
Full textHarding, Matthew Ian. "Perception : a metaphysical analysis." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/21285.
Full textCarr, B. "Categorical description : Some contemporary metaphysical issues." Thesis, University of Exeter, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.379668.
Full textHaffner, John. "Post-metaphysical faith in the philosophy of Charles Taylor." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0001/MQ31213.pdf.
Full textMariana, John D. "The indispensability of metaphysical realism." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2008.
Find full textChonabayashi, Ryo. "A defence of metaphysical ethical naturalism." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2012. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/26860/.
Full textHeins, Barbara. "Giorgio de Chirico's metaphysical art and Schopenhauer's metaphysics : an exploration of the philosophical concept in de Chirico's prose and paintings." Thesis, University of Kent, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.332890.
Full textAllen, Sophie Rebecca. "Causation and the mind : metaphysical presuppositions in the philosophy of mind." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.392097.
Full textPappas, Vangelis. "Aristotle on the metaphysical status of mathematical entities." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2019. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/290080.
Full textStorozhenko, Mykyta. "Phenomenology and Metaphysical Realism." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent158664365679686.
Full textKaragoz, Umut. "Is The Metaphysical Status Of." Master's thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12606862/index.pdf.
Full textlanguage game&rdquo
in later Wittgensteinian philosophy of language and to deal with the revolutionary role of &ldquo
language-game&rdquo
by means of Hintikka&rsquo
s interpretation of later Wittgenstein. It is usual to divide Wittgenstein&rsquo
s work into the early and the later period. The early period is based upon the picture theory of meaning, according to which a sentence represents a state of affairs. On the other hand, the later period gives special emphasis on the actions of people and the role their linguistic activities. The early period ignored factual or cognitive meaning since it relied on mirroring the structure of state of affairs by sentences. So, early period of Wittgenstein was concluded that &ldquo
whereof we can&rsquo
t speak, thereof we must be silent.&rdquo
This idea gives clues about metaphysics of early Wittgenstein. In this sense, language is treated in abstraction from activities of human beings. In the later work, Wittgenstein emphasizes everyday usage of language in &ldquo
language-game&rdquo
as social activities of ordering, advising, measuring, and counting and so on. These different &ldquo
language-games&rdquo
make up &ldquo
form of life&rdquo
. &ldquo
Language game&rdquo
with other vital notions of later Wittgenstein, as &ldquo
form of life&rdquo
, &ldquo
agreement&rdquo
establishes language matrix. So, later period of Wittgenstein is a rejection of his early period. Actually, his treatment of philosophy and philosopher is different from his early period. In addition to this, later Wittgenstein mainly focuses on the principle of &ldquo
meaning=use&rdquo
which is called contextual theory of meaning. In his later period, Wittgenstein aims to bring back words from metaphysics to everyday usage. On the other hand, metaphysics still plays a role in his later period as his early period, although he altered his early philosophy of language. To sum up, the notion of &ldquo
language-game&rdquo
is conceptually/ ontologically prior to its rules. In this sense, Wittgenstein forms &ldquo
language-game&rdquo
as a model for the other social activities of human beings. Furthermore, &ldquo
language-game&rdquo
is regarded as a bridge between language and reality and it shows &ldquo
language-game&rdquo
s revolutionary role in later Wittgenstein.
Mare, Marin Lucio. "Leibniz's More Fundamental Ontology: from Overshadowed Individuals to Metaphysical Atoms." Scholar Commons, 2016. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6311.
Full textJohannesson, Karin. "God "pro nobis" : on non-metaphysical realism and the philosophy of religion /." Leuven : Peeters, 2007. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb41406385s.
Full textJohnson, Richard Philip. "MacIntyre, Kierkegaard, and the post-metaphysical critique of rational theology." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1983/a6dd25d9-8360-4e4a-bc6d-0a5e65a8dda0.
Full textGuo, Yunlong. "The structure of a metaphysical interpretation of science of history." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2018. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/115891/.
Full textAcosta, López de Mesa Juliana. "Peirce's Idea of God as Metaphysical Condition for Freedom." OpenSIUC, 2011. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/600.
Full textShaw, Julia Jane Anne. "Towards a metaphysical foundation for jurisprudence : a critical exposition of Kant's philosophy of law." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268113.
Full textMiller, Elizabeth Louise. "No Metaphysics within Physics?" Thesis, Harvard University, 2014. http://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:11403.
Full textPhilosophy
Young, Brian Walter. "'Orthodoxy assail'd' : an historical examination of some metaphysical and theological debates in England from Locke and Burke." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.316004.
Full textMoseley, Darran A. "A philosophy of war." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/1721.
Full textWhite, Barbara A., and mikewood@deakin edu au. "'Beyond God the father' : The metaphysical in a physical world." Deakin University. School of Literary and Communication Studies, 2002. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050825.154051.
Full textDargan, Geoffrey David. "The possible self : an exposition and analysis of metaphysical themes in Kierkegaard's theological anthropology." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2016. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:939bc331-d3af-4144-8aac-f6fa6be95f0b.
Full textDeary, Janice L. ""A picture held us captive" : investigations towards an iconoclastic praxeology." Thesis, St Andrews, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/370.
Full textElliott, Benjamin Wing. "An object under light : the metaphysical strength of light as revealed in Saint Augustine's Confessions." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/23928.
Full textMinchin, Heather Marie. "Emotion in the digital age : Bergson's creative emotion and metaphysical methods for digital video production." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/11262.
Full textMilne, Douglas J. W., and res cand@acu edu au. "A Religious, Ethical and Philosophical Study of the Human Person in the Context of Biomedical Practices." Australian Catholic University. School of Philosophy, 2006. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp148.26072007.
Full textKooy, Brian Keith. "Between Being and Nothingness: The Metaphysical Foundations Underlying Augustine's Solution to the Problem of Evil." unrestricted, 2007. http://etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-11302007-134955/.
Full textTitle from file title page. Timothy M. Renick, committee chair; Tim O'Keefe, Louis A. Ruprecht, Jr., committee members. Electronic text (110 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Jan. 18, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-110).
Cole, Julian C. "Practice-dependent realism and mathematics." Connect to resource, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1124122328.
Full textTitle from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 248 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 244-248). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center
Quinalia, Rineu [UNIFESP]. "Sobre o Belo em Platão: um estudo a respeito do Hípias Maior." Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), 2013. http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/39309.
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O presente trabalho tem como objetivo oferecer uma leitura do Hípias Maior de Platão pretendendo discutir a respeito da possibilidade de o diálogo apresentar as primeiras discussões sobre o conceito inteligível do Belo.
This paper aims to offer a reading of Plato's Greater Hippias intending to discuss about the possibility of dialogue present the first discussions on the concept of Fine intelligible.
Eddebo, Johan. "Death and the Self : A Metaphysical Investigation of the Rationality of Afterlife Beliefs in the Contemporary Intellectual Climate." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Religionsfilosofi, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-332097.
Full textMatusek, Edward. "The Problem of Evil in Augustine's Confessions." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3733.
Full textVasquez, Fernando. "Teism, naturalism och enkelhetsprincipen : En analys av två konkurrerande världsbilder och deras enkelhet." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Teologiska institutionen, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-374479.
Full textJordan, Matthew Carey. "Divine Attitudes and the Nature of Morality: A Defense of a Theistic Account of Deontic Properties." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243652774.
Full textPolanowska, Beata. "Reading philosophy through literature : a study of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz's novels "Farewell to autumn" and "Insatiability" and his metaphysical categories from a perspective of the philosophical work of Søren Kierkegaard." Thesis, University of Derby, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10545/208796.
Full textCreighton, Theresa A. "Freedom and the Ideal Republican State: Kant, Jefferson, and the Place of Individual Freedom in the Republican Constitutional State." unrestricted, 2008. http://etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-06112008-123804/.
Full textTitle from file title page. Melissa M. Merritt, committee chair; Andrew J. Cohen, Sandra Dwyer, committee members. Electronic text (85 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed October 9, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-85).
Conway, William. "The deep extent of mental autonomy." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/1722.
Full textFromm, Wikström Linda. "Gud och vardagsspråket : En religionsfilosofisk förutsättningsanalys." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Teologiska fakulteten, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-122168.
Full textDuguid, Callum James. "Humean metaphysics and the philosophy of science." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2017. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/18464/.
Full textStow, Diana L. "Metaphysics and pornography." Thesis, University of Sussex, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.336153.
Full textHoffman, Dylan Kirk. "Jung and Plotinus| The Shadow of Metaphysics, the Metaphysics of Shadow." Thesis, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10242189.
Full textThis study provides a comparative analysis, using dialectical hermeneutics, of the philosophy of Plotinus and the depth psychology of C. G. Jung. While coming from different historical contexts, they each address the nature of unconsciousness, or the unconscious. This study concentrates in particular on one archetypal aspect of the unconscious that Jung calls the shadow. According to Jung, the shadow is a psychological dynamic that both hides from our awareness certain aspects or depths of our own inner reality, and also, when recognized, mediates our initial confrontation with those fuller realities. The first aim of this study is to analyze Jung’s view of the psyche, through the lens of shadow, to reveal the shadow in Jung’s work, examining how he denies or disavows metaphysical reality as a legitimate domain of depth psychological inquiry. Secondly, the biographical and historical backgrounds to this shadow are explored, and the potential consequences of it are discussed. Finally, Plotinus’ ancient perspective on unconsciousness and what he understands as the metaphysics of shadow are brought into dialogue with Jung. The goal is to address the shadow in Jung’s work—what his view of depth psychology denies to depth psychology, offering another way of understanding the psyche, and the shadow in particular, that includes metaphysical reality as a legitimate domain of depth psychological experience and analysis.
Cifone, Michael C. "Structuralism and natural philosophy method, metaphysics and explanation /." College Park, Md.: University of Maryland, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/9479.
Full textThesis research directed by: Dept. of Philosophy. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.
Kochiras, Hylarie Nelson Alan Jean. "Force, matter, and metaphysics in Newton's natural philosophy." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,1886.
Full textTitle from electronic title page (viewed Dec. 11, 2008). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy." Discipline: Philosophy; Department/School: Philosophy.
Tester, Steven. "Kant's metaphysics of mind and rational psychology." Doctoral thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philosophische Fakultät I, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.18452/17029.
Full textThis dissertation considers Kant’s discussions of the metaphysics of mind in his critical encounter with the rational psychology of Baumgarten, Wolff, and others in the Critique of Pure Reason and his lectures on metaphysics. In contrast with prevailing interpretations, I argue that Kant does not offer a straightforward rejection of his predecessors but that he retains some commitments to the substantial view of the self and modifies others within the framework of transcendental idealism to provide accounts of the nature of personhood, mental powers, the possibility of mind-body interaction, and the possibility of freedom of the will. This interpretation of Kant reveals continuity between Kant’s pre-critical and critical positions on the metaphysics of mind and points forward to a role for aspects of Kant’s metaphysics of mind in his practical philosophy.
McLeod, Stephen K. "Modality and anti-metaphysics." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.364089.
Full textOoms, Renard Nicole Marie Anne. "Plato's metaphysics of explanation." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.324884.
Full textOliver, Alexander Duncan. "The metaphysics of sets." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.319538.
Full textKatayama, Errol G. "Aristotle on artifacts : a metaphysical puzzle /." Albany (N.Y) : State university of New York press, 1999. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb371816451.
Full textSchlosser, Markus E. "The metaphysics of agency." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/163.
Full text