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- Dec 19, 2018Hello Bruce,Given the premise that Aristotle did not use the term, Metaphysics, I still laugh whenever some scholar says that subsequent scholars gave that book its name without regard to its CONTENTS.They say, for example, that "Metaphysics" simply means, "his book that appears after his book on Physics."That seems to me a foolish way of judging the title.On the contrary -- given the premise that subsequent scholars gave Aristotle's book on Metaphysics its title, it is far more intelligent to surmise that they thought very carefully about the title based on the CONTENTS. Aristotle himself referred to it as Theology, Wisdom, and First Philosophy.In Book Β, Aristotle lists some puzzles that he will tackle as "First Principles":1. Are sense-data Substances the only ones that exist?2. Are kinds or individuals the most basic principles of beings?3. If kinds, is it the most generic or the most specific kinds?4. Is there any Cause apart from matter?5. Is there anything apart from compounds of matter?6. Are Principles limited in number or in kind?7. Are Principles perishable?8. Are Principles universal or particular?9. Are Principles potential or actual?10. Are mathematical objects Substances (as Pythagoras held)?11. If so, are they always associated with sense-data objects?12. Are Unity and Being the Substance of things, or mere attributes?There is the CONTENT of Aristotle's book, called Metaphysics. The title was attained based on the CONTENT, which could never be classed with Logic, Physics, Natural Science or any other topic.It is flatly absurd to claim, as some have claimed, that later scholars blithely added the title to mean, "the book that we sorted after the Physics". Flatly absurd.All best,--Paul-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------On Wednesday, December 19, 2018, 7:39:55 AM CST, Bruce Merrill merrillbp@... [hegel] <hegel@yahoogroups.com> wrote:Hello John
Being curious as to current and standard definitions of metaphysics, I took a brief look at the Stanford Enc. of Phil, and there learned:
Aristotle did not use the term "metaphysics." This was applied to his philosophy retrospectively.
Christian Wolf is credited for the distinction between general and special metaphysics.
(Of course, it's in regard to Kant that I'm familiar with the distinction.)
It is a highly contested term!
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