Ontology, the Theory of Being: An Introduction to General Metaphysics (Classic Reprint)

PREFACE IT is hoped that the present volume will supply a want that is really felt by students of philosophy in our universities- the want of an English text-book on General Metaphysics from the Scholastic standpoint. It is the author's intention to supplement his Sct"e-Jtce of Logz"C,l and the present treatise on Ontology, by a volume on the Theory of Knowledge. Hence no disquisitions on the latter subject will be found in these pages: the Moderate Realism of Aristotle and the Schoolmen is assumed throughout. In the domain of Ontology there are many scholastic theories and discussions which are commonly regarded by non-scholastic writers as possessing nowadays for the student of philosophy an interest that is merely historical. This mistaken notion is probably due to the fact that few jf any serious attempts have yet been made to transpose these questions from their medieval setting into the language and context of contemporary philosophy. Per. haps not a single Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS; GENERAL INTRODUCTION; PAGE; I Reason of Introductory Chapter I; II Philosophy: the Name and tbe Tbing J; 111 Divisionll of Philosophy Speculative and Practical Philosophy 7; IV Departments of Practical Philosophy: Logic, Ethics and Esthetics 10; V Department!! of Spe(ttlativc: Philosophy i Metapbysic8 14; VI Departn:lentB of Metaphysics: Cosmology, Psychology and Natural; Theology · IS; VII Departments of Metaphysics: Ontology and Epistemology 20; VIII RelllAl'ks on lIome Misgivlngll and Prejudice! · 23; CHAPTER I; BBING A~D ITS PRI"AIt~ DETERMINATIONS; I Our Concept of Being: it$ Esp,ession and Features 32; 2 In what Sense are All Things that Exist Or can Exist said to be c Real,"; or to have c Being" 1 36; 3 Real Being and Logical Being 42; 4 Real Being and Ideal Being 45; S Fondamental Distinctions in Real Being