Aristotle's First Principles - Hardcover

Irwin, Terence H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198247176 ISBN 13: 9780198247173

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1989

Synopsis

This book explores Aristotle's philosophical method and the merits of his conclusions, showing how he defends dialectic against the objection that it cannot justify a metaphysical realist's claims. The author claims that a proper understanding of Aristotle's method requires emphasis on the systematic character of his philosophy and thus examines questions in several different areas of Aristotle's philosophy - especially metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind and ethics - and stresses the connections between doctrines and issues that are often discussed separately. Professor Irwin does not presuppose extensive previous acquaintance with Aristotle. Greek texts are translated and Greek words transliterated.

About this title

Review

`Undoubtedly a major work - scholarly, learned, detailed ... Irwin's book will certainly be something for Aristotelians to discuss for a long time.' Times Higher Education Supplement

`T.H. Irwin's rich book ... is vastly learned ...The argument is always based on a scholarly perusal of the texts; and it is usually presented with philosophical subtelty and precision ... He writes of Aristotle with admiration and with love; and his affection gives a charming blush to a serious book ... already a classic of its kind.' Jonathan Barnes, The Times Literary Supplement

'The book is elegantly printed, and conspicuously well proof-read.' Christopher Kirwan, Exeter College, Oxford, Journal of Hellenic Studies, Volume CX, 1990

'an emminently readable reference book to the history of the field' Pat Haggard, New Scientist, 20 April 1991

`its great strength is that, in spite of its length and scope, Irwin never loses his grip upon a central, organising thesis.' Canadian Philosophical Reviews

`This is a very good book. It has much that is original. It is comprehensive ... It is critical ... this is a really important book, and a provocative one; it must be pondered by all who deal seriously with Aristotle.' Ancient Philosophy

`remarkable ... This is a scholarly and philosophical work of the first magnitude ... one can only admire the intellectual achievement this book represents, and be grateful for how much there is to learn from it.' Philosophical Review

About the Author

Terence Irwin is at Cornell University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198247176
• ISBN 13: 9780198247173
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 720