DOCSLIB.ORG

Metaphysics and Postmetaphysics

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Metaphysics and Postmetaphysics One may see a trajectory in the history of Metaphysics and Euro-American political philosophy regarding Postmetaphysics the relationship between metaphysics and N i c h o l a s T a m p i o politics. For the ancients, only a few people are capable of grasping the deepest level of reality and those few are by nature supposed to govern. Political scientists often study things that can As a rule, transcendent metaphysics supports be examined, measured, and compared, such an elitist politics. In modernity, philosophers as human beings, political regimes, or interna- often posit an immanent metaphysics that dis- tional organizations. Political philosophers credits traditional claims to theoretical wisdom often think about things that cannot, as such, or political superiority. Many Enlightenment be empirically observed, such as human nature, philosophers support liberal and democratic moral codes, and theories of justice. The most claims that individuals and societies should profound activity of philosophy is metaphysics. govern themselves. Over time, however, political Metaphysics, according to Aristotle, is first tensions have festered between metaphysical philosophy, the study of being qua being. In partisans, most notably between those who general, a metaphysics grounds and delimits view God at the base of reality and those who what a philosopher thinks that political affairs do not. Postmetaphysicians seek to reduce this are and can be. In other words, a metaphysics tension by arguing that philosophers may helps a philosopher explain actual political ground political theories on shared cultural affairs and envision new political possibilities. resources rather than controversial metaphys- This entry considers how several of the most ical doctrines. Pluralists respond that post- important figures in the history of Euro- metaphysicians underestimate both their own American political theory conceptualize being, philosophical commitments and the depth the privileged interpreters of being, and the of disagreement among global constituencies. political principles that accord with being. For pluralists, the task today is to construct Here are definitions of a few key terms in political orders where multiple existential this entry. Physics describes the study of things faiths – including ones that originate outside of that move and change (in Greek, ta physika ). Europe or North America – may collaborate Metaphysics, or ontology, describes the science for common ends. of that which lies beyond physical things (meta To best enter contemporary debates about ta physika ; in Latin, ontologia ). A transcendent politics and metaphysics, it is necessary to sur- metaphysics holds that the deepest layer of vey their historical backdrop. reality resides on a different plane of being than physical things. An immanent metaphysics, by contrast, maintains that there is one plane of Classical Metaphysics being though human perception may not (yet) be able to grasp all of it. Postmetaphysics is The Euro-American conversation about the notion that political theory ought to focus metaphysics began in the sixth century bce on questions of real-world justice instead of when Greek philosophers such as Heraclitus, debates about whether there is or is not another Parmenides, Anaximander, and Anaxagoras world. Pluralists argue that all political theories pondered the mysteries embedded in the word express some conception of metaphysics and “being” (ousia ). Unlike Homer, the Presocratic the pressing task is to negotiate, not suppress, philosophers doubted that deities such as differences between metaphysical visions. Zeus and Athena directly intervened in human The Encyclopedia of Political Thought, First Edition. Edited by Michael T. Gibbons. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. DOI: 10.1002/9781118474396.wbept0666 2 affairs; at the same time, their work avoids posits a two-world metaphysics and a pyramidal political themes and evinces an oracular, poetic political structure whereby philosophers dis- quality that does not express the philosophic cover the truth, politicians enforce the truth aspiration to pursue knowledge using only as taught to them by philosophers, and the reason. The first person to bring philosophy ignorant masses work and farm. from heaven to earth, according to the Roman In The Politics , Aristotle (384–322 bce ) crit- philosopher Cicero, was Socrates (469–399 bce ). icizes his teacher Plato’s political vision Socrates used to go to a public space ( agora ) and for being unrealistic and irresponsible. Plato debate with people about the meaning of such argues that a just society will possess all things, words as justice, piety, beauty, science, and the including children, in common; Aristotle good. He did not want to know whether this or responds that parents will only care for chil- that object is beautiful; he wanted to know what dren whom they recognize as their own. is beauty in itself, a question that compels an Aristotle reverses Plato’s method: rather than investigation beyond appearances. Socrates was start with philosophical abstractions that can condemned for corrupting youth and making then be applied to experience, Aristotle col- new gods and not believing in the old ones. lects evidence from Greek constitutions to Socrates’ legacy is primarily preserved in the determine what preserves and destroys states dialogues of Plato (429–347 bce ). and keeps them well or ill administered. “As in One of these dialogues, the Republic , is other departments of science, so in politics, widely considered to be the first book of the compound should always be resolved political philosophy. The Republic begins with into the simple elements or least parts of the Socrates asking several men for their defini- whole” (Aristotle 1996 : 11). Aristotle argues that tions of justice and then showing that each human beings naturally progress from being definition is flawed. To discover the nature of alone, to being married, to having slaves, to justice, Socrates proposes to create a city in inhabiting villages, and then living in a polis. speech so that he may see on a larger scale The city has a purpose ( telos ) in the flourish- what he wishes to know for the single human ing ( eudaimonia ) of human beings. Aristotle being. Socrates argues that a just city will have does maintain that philosophical contempla- harmony between its philosophical, spirited, tion is one of the few things that human beings and industrious constituencies. Socrates’ con- enjoy for its own sake; and in the work now versation partners ask what makes philoso- known to us as The Metaphysics , Aristotle phers fit to rule. Using perhaps the most famous commends the study of “being qua being,” metaphor in the history of political philosophy, including the Prime Mover that sets matter in Socrates explains that most people live, as it motion. Yet Aristotle’s political theory does were, in a cave of ignorance and that only a few not maintain that metaphysical knowledge are able to reach the sunlight of knowledge. In grants one a privilege to rule. Kings, aristo- other words, most people form opinions based crats, and citizens in a politeia (mixed regime) on what they sense in the visible realm (to govern for the common advantage; tyrants, horaton ) but only the naturally gifted acquire oligarchs, and democrats rule for their own knowledge of the intelligible realm ( to noeton ). particular well-being. In the “School of Just as navigators take their bearings by the Athens,” the Italian Renaissance painter North Star, politicians should steer the ship of Raphael (1483–1520) depicts Plato and Aris- state by the Idea of the Good. “Unless the phi- totle at the center of the painting with the losophers rule as kings or those now called former pointing to the heavens and the latter kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately phi- keeping his hand out flat to the earth. This pic- losophize, and political power and philosophy ture conveys the debate that the two phi- coincide in the same place … there is no rest losophers bequeathed posterity regarding the from ills for the cities” (Plato 1991 : 153). Plato source of normative political judgments. 3 Medieval Metaphysics civic orders that keep the peace; when that hap- pens, pilgrims of the heavenly city can and In the history of western political thought, the should maintain the social order. Still, it is better conversation about the relationship between that the king be a Christian rather than a pagan: transcendence and immanence moved from Athens to Jerusalem, so to speak, with the rise when those who are gifted with true godli- of Christianity. Jesus declared that he was the ness and live good lives also know the art Son of God and preached “you must love the of governing peoples, nothing could be more Lord your God with all your heart, with all fortunate for human affairs than that, by the mercy of God, they should also have the your soul, and with all your mind” and “you power to do so. (Augustine 1998 : 225) must love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–9). In the secular realm, Jesus counseled Augustine advises a Christian king to rule his followers to “render unto Caesar the things justly, be humble, love and worship God, be which are Caesar’s and unto God the things slow to punish and quick to forgive, and use his that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). The apostle majesty to “spread His worship to the greatest Paul (ca. 5–67 ce ) helped transform Jesus’ possible extent” (Augustine 1998 : 232). Many moral teaching into a political doctrine in his medieval political thinkers – including Gregory letter to the Christian community in Rome. the Great (ca. 540–604) and Isidore of Seville Paul states “those who live according to the (ca. 560–636) – would operate within an flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, Augustinian framework in delineating the but those who live according to the Spirit spheres of the king and the pope, secular and set their minds on the things of the Spirit” religious authority.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Philosophical Theory-Construction and the Self-Image of Philosophy
    Open Journal of Philosophy, 2014, 4, 231-243 Published Online August 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojpp http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojpp.2014.43031 Philosophical Theory-Construction and the Self-Image of Philosophy Niels Skovgaard Olsen Department of Philosophy, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany Email: [email protected] Received 25 May 2014; revised 28 June 2014; accepted 10 July 2014 Copyright © 2014 by author and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract This article takes its point of departure in a criticism of the views on meta-philosophy of P.M.S. Hacker for being too dismissive of the possibility of philosophical theory-construction. But its real aim is to put forward an explanatory hypothesis for the lack of a body of established truths and universal research programs in philosophy along with the outline of a positive account of what philosophical theories are and of how to assess them. A corollary of the present account is that it allows us to account for the objective dimension of philosophical discourse without taking re- course to the problematic idea of there being worldly facts that function as truth-makers for phi- losophical claims. Keywords Meta-Philosophy, Hacker, Williamson, Philosophical Theories 1. Introduction The aim of this article is to use a critical discussion of the self-image of philosophy presented by P. M. S. Hacker as a platform for presenting an alternative, which offers an account of how to think about the purpose and cha- racter of philosophical theories.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions Sophia Studies in Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures
    Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures 12 Meera Baindur Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures Volume 12 Series editors Editor-in-Chief: Purushottama Bilimoria The University of Melbourne, Australia; University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA Co-Editor: Andrew Irvine Maryville College, Maryville, TN, USA Assistant to Editor Amy Rayner (Australia) Editorial Board Balbinder Bhogal (Hofstra University) Sheerah Bloor (University of Melbourne) Christopher Chapple (Loyola Marymount University) Vrinda Dalmia (University of Hawaii at Honolulu) Gavin Flood (Oxford University) Jessica Frazier (Kent University) Kathleen Higgins (University of Texas at Austin) Morny Joy (Calgary University) Parimal Patil (Harvard University) Joseph Prabhu (Cal State LA) Carool Kersten (King’s College, London) Richard King (University of Glasgow) Arvind-Pal Mandair (University of Michigan) Rekha Nath (University of Alabama) Stephen Phillips (University of Texas at Austin) Anupama Rao (Columbia University) The Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures fosters critical and constructive engagement of the intellectual and philosophical dimen- sions—broadly construed—of religious and cultural traditions around the globe. The series invites innovative scholarship, including feminist, postmodern, and postcolonial approaches. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/8880 Meera Baindur Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions 123 Meera Baindur Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities Manipal University Manipal, Karnataka India ISSN 2211-1107 ISSN 2211-1115 (electronic) Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures ISBN 978-81-322-2357-3 ISBN 978-81-322-2358-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-2358-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015934684 Springer New Delhi Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer India 2015 This work is subject to copyright.
    [Show full text]
  • God As Both Ideal and Real Being in the Aristotelian Metaphysics
    God As Both Ideal and Real Being In the Aristotelian Metaphysics Martin J. Henn St. Mary College Aristotle asserts in Metaphysics r, 1003a21ff. that "there exists a science which theorizes on Being insofar as Being, and on those attributes which belong to it in virtue of its own nature."' In order that we may discover the nature of Being Aristotle tells us that we must first recognize that the term "Being" is spoken in many ways, but always in relation to a certain unitary nature, and not homonymously (cf. Met. r, 1003a33-4). Beings share the same name "eovta," yet they are not homonyms, for their Being is one and the same, not manifold and diverse. Nor are beings synonyms, for synonymy is sameness of name among things belonging to the same genus (as, say, a man and an ox are both called "animal"), and Being is no genus. Furthermore, synonyms are things sharing a common intrinsic nature. But things are called "beings" precisely because they share a common relation to some one extrinsic nature. Thus, beings are neither homonyms nor synonyms, yet their core essence, i.e. their Being as such, is one and the same. Thus, the unitary Being of beings must rest in some unifying nature extrinsic to their respective specific essences. Aristotle's dialectical investigations into Being eventually lead us to this extrinsic nature in Book A, i.e. to God, the primary Essence beyond all specific essences. In the pre-lambda books of the Metaphysics, however, this extrinsic nature remains very much up for grabs.
    [Show full text]
  • Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry
    Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry Jaap van Brakel Abstract: In this paper I assess the relation between philosophy of chemistry and (general) philosophy of science, focusing on those themes in the philoso- phy of chemistry that may bring about major revisions or extensions of cur- rent philosophy of science. Three themes can claim to make a unique contri- bution to philosophy of science: first, the variety of materials in the (natural and artificial) world; second, extending the world by making new stuff; and, third, specific features of the relations between chemistry and physics. Keywords : philosophy of science, philosophy of chemistry, interdiscourse relations, making stuff, variety of substances . 1. Introduction Chemistry is unique and distinguishes itself from all other sciences, with respect to three broad issues: • A (variety of) stuff perspective, requiring conceptual analysis of the notion of stuff or material (Sections 4 and 5). • A making stuff perspective: the transformation of stuff by chemical reaction or phase transition (Section 6). • The pivotal role of the relations between chemistry and physics in connection with the question how everything fits together (Section 7). All themes in the philosophy of chemistry can be classified in one of these three clusters or make contributions to general philosophy of science that, as yet , are not particularly different from similar contributions from other sci- ences (Section 3). I do not exclude the possibility of there being more than three clusters of philosophical issues unique to philosophy of chemistry, but I am not aware of any as yet. Moreover, highlighting the issues discussed in Sections 5-7 does not mean that issues reviewed in Section 3 are less im- portant in revising the philosophy of science.
    [Show full text]
  • In Defence of Constructive Empiricism: Metaphysics Versus Science
    To appear in Journal for General Philosophy of Science (2004) In Defence of Constructive Empiricism: Metaphysics versus Science F.A. Muller Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Mathematics Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.000 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] August 2003 Summary Over the past years, in books and journals (this journal included), N. Maxwell launched a ferocious attack on B.C. van Fraassen's view of science called Con- structive Empiricism (CE). This attack has been totally ignored. Must we con- clude from this silence that no defence is possible against the attack and that a fortiori Maxwell has buried CE once and for all, or is the attack too obviously flawed as not to merit exposure? We believe that neither is the case and hope that a careful dissection of Maxwell's reasoning will make this clear. This dis- section includes an analysis of Maxwell's `aberrance-argument' (omnipresent in his many writings) for the contentious claim that science implicitly and per- manently accepts a substantial, metaphysical thesis about the universe. This claim generally has been ignored too, for more than a quarter of a century. Our con- clusions will be that, first, Maxwell's attacks on CE can be beaten off; secondly, his `aberrance-arguments' do not establish what Maxwell believes they estab- lish; but, thirdly, we can draw a number of valuable lessons from these attacks about the nature of science and of the libertarian nature of CE. Table of Contents on other side −! Contents 1 Exordium: What is Maxwell's Argument? 1 2 Does Science Implicitly Accept Metaphysics? 3 2.1 Aberrant Theories .
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Tension Between the Holistic and Dualistic View of Man in the Church
    Page 1 of 8 Original Research Historical tension between the holistic and dualistic view of man in the church Author: Dualism has continually plagued the Church, especially from the time when Greek philosophers 1 Herm Zandman articulated the dualistic view of man in an excellent, scholarly way. Even when the Reformers Affiliations: militated against this phenomenon theologically, it still dominated life in general and 1Theological Faculty Christian living in particular. This article considered the historical tension between the holistic North-West University, and dualistic view of man in the church. It strove to do this by setting forth certain examples Potchefstroom Campus, from history, showing how the Church wrestled with this tension. Furthermore, the author South Africa attempted to point out in which way the dualistic view of man was damaging to godly living, Correspondence to: and why a holistic view of man was conducive to life under God in an ethically meaningful Herm Zandman manner. Email: [email protected] Die historiese spanning tussen die holistiese en dualistiese beeld van die mens in die Postal Address: kerk. Dualisme het die Kerk nog altyd beinvloed, veral sedert die era toe Griekse filosowe die 25 Hay Terrace, Kongorong dualistiese siening van die mens op ‘n uitstekende akademiese wyse bekendgestel het. Selfs 5291, South Australia toe die Reformeerders teologies te velde getrek het teen hierdie fenomeen, het dit die lewe in Dates: die algemeen en die Christelike lewe in die besonder aangetas. Hierdie artikel oorweeg die Received: 28 Feb. 2011 historiese spanning tussen die holistiese en dualistiese sienings in die kerk. Sekere voorbeelde Accepted: 25 July 2011 uit die geskiedenis sal voorgehou word ter illustrasie van hoe die Kerk met hierdie spanning Published: 02 Oct.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Philosophy. Social Studies--Language Arts: 6414.16. INSTITUTION Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Fla
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 086 604 SO 006 822 AUTHOR Norris, Jack A., Jr. TITLE Introduction to Philosophy. Social Studies--Language Arts: 6414.16. INSTITUTION Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Fla. PUB DATE 72 NOTE 20p.; Authorized Course of Instruction for the Quinmester Program EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS Course Objectives; Curriculum Guides; Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12; *Language Arts; Learnin4 Activities; *Logic; Non Western Civilization; *Philosophy; Resource Guides; Secondary Grades; *Social Studies; *Social Studies Units; Western Civilization IDENTIFIERS *Quinmester Program ABSTRACT Western and non - western philosophers and their ideas are introduced to 10th through 12th grade students in this general social studies Quinmester course designed to be used as a preparation for in-depth study of the various schools of philosophical thought. By acquainting students with the questions and categories of philosophy, a point of departure for further study is developed. Through suggested learning activities the meaning of philosopky is defined. The Socratic, deductive, inductive, intuitive and eclectic approaches to philosophical thought are examined, as are three general areas of philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology,and axiology. Logical reasoning is applied to major philosophical questions. This course is arranged, as are other quinmester courses, with sections on broad goals, course content, activities, and materials. A related document is ED 071 937.(KSM) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY U S DEPARTMENT EDUCATION OF HEALTH. NAT10N41
    [Show full text]
  • St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Mind, Body, and Life After Death
    The University of Akron IdeaExchange@UAkron Williams Honors College, Honors Research The Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors Projects College Spring 2020 St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Mind, Body, and Life After Death Christopher Choma [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects Part of the Christianity Commons, Epistemology Commons, European History Commons, History of Philosophy Commons, History of Religion Commons, Metaphysics Commons, Philosophy of Mind Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Please take a moment to share how this work helps you through this survey. Your feedback will be important as we plan further development of our repository. Recommended Citation Choma, Christopher, "St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Mind, Body, and Life After Death" (2020). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1048. https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1048 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by The Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College at IdeaExchange@UAkron, the institutional repository of The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, USA. It has been accepted for inclusion in Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects by an authorized administrator of IdeaExchange@UAkron. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. 1 St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas on the Mind, Body, and Life After Death By: Christopher Choma Sponsored by: Dr. Joseph Li Vecchi Readers: Dr. Howard Ducharme Dr. Nathan Blackerby 2 Table of Contents Introduction p. 4 Section One: Three General Views of Human Nature p.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion, Ethics, and Poetics in a Tamil Literary Tradition
    Tacit Tirukku#a#: Religion, Ethics, and Poetics in a Tamil Literary Tradition The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Smith, Jason William. 2020. Tacit Tirukku#a#: Religion, Ethics, and Poetics in a Tamil Literary Tradition. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard Divinity School. Citable link https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37364524 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use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
    [Show full text]
  • Life with Augustine
    Life with Augustine ...a course in his spirit and guidance for daily living By Edmond A. Maher ii Life with Augustine © 2002 Augustinian Press Australia Sydney, Australia. Acknowledgements: The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the following people: ► the Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Australia, for support- ing this project, with special mention of Pat Fahey osa, Kevin Burman osa, Pat Codd osa and Peter Jones osa ► Laurence Mooney osa for assistance in editing ► Michael Morahan osa for formatting this 2nd Edition ► John Coles, Peter Gagan, Dr. Frank McGrath fms (Brisbane CEO), Benet Fonck ofm, Peter Keogh sfo for sharing their vast experience in adult education ► John Rotelle osa, for granting us permission to use his English translation of Tarcisius van Bavel’s work Augustine (full bibliography within) and for his scholarly advice Megan Atkins for her formatting suggestions in the 1st Edition, that have carried over into this the 2nd ► those generous people who have completed the 1st Edition and suggested valuable improvements, especially Kath Neehouse and friends at Villanova College, Brisbane Foreword 1 Dear Participant Saint Augustine of Hippo is a figure in our history who has appealed to the curiosity and imagination of many generations. He is well known for being both sinner and saint, for being a bishop yet also a fellow pilgrim on the journey to God. One of the most popular and attractive persons across many centuries, his influence on the church has continued to our current day. He is also renowned for his influ- ence in philosophy and psychology and even (in an indirect way) art, music and architecture.
    [Show full text]
  • Aristotle's Anticommunism Author(S): Darrell Dobbs Source: American Journal of Political Science, Vol
    Aristotle's Anticommunism Author(s): Darrell Dobbs Source: American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Feb., 1985), pp. 29-46 Published by: Midwest Political Science Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2111210 Accessed: 10/12/2010 23:50 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=mpsa. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Midwest Political Science Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to American Journal of Political Science. http://www.jstor.org Aristotle'sAnticommunism DarrellDobbs, Universityof Houston This essayexamines Aristotle's critical review of Plato's Republic,the focus of whichreview is restricted,surprisingly, to Socrates'communistic political institutions; Aristotle hardly men- tionsany of theother important themes developed in thedialogue.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction: the New Metaphysics of Time Over the Last Several Years
    History and Theory, Virtual Issue 1 (August 2012) © Wesleyan University 2012 ISSN: 1468-2303 INTRODUCTION: THE NEW METAPHYSICS OF TIME ETHAN KLEINBERG Over the last several years, the editors of History and Theory have tracked a growing trend evident not only in the articles published in our pages but also in manuscripts submitted to the journal as well as articles published in other venues. In the broadest strokes, this trend can be described as a response to the perceived limitations of a discourse predicated on language, rhetoric, and the question of representation. Whether one subscribes to the idea that historians and theorists of history took a “linguistic turn” in the 1980s,1 an increasing number of articles and monographs have taken issue with the general influence of French “post- structuralism” or “postmodernism,” with constructivism, and specifically with the work of Hayden White. These works seek to address the perceived faults of an overemphasis on the issues of “language” and representation that has obscured or misdirected the goal of actually addressing the past by perpetually worrying over how we might go about that task. Combined with the growing interest in material culture, the ways of science, and the nature of the body, it is hard to doubt the return to the real. But what strikes us as most interesting about this trend is the way that some of these theorists have sought to move beyond the emphasis on language and representation not by returning to a crude variant of objectivism or empiricism but by re-examining our relationship to the past and the past’s very nature and by attempting to construct a new metaphysics of time.
    [Show full text]