Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology

Whitehead presented these three lectures at Princeton University in 1929. Although 85 years have passed, his central thesis and his analysis remain remarkably current. The scientific materialism that Whitehead opposed with such vigor continues to dominate in academic circles, and even now those who question that worldview are often accused of being anti-scientific. This is especially true in discussions of the nature of the human mind and its relation to the body (particularly the brain). It is hard to find a contemporary thinker with a better perspective on the nature and role of natural science than Whitehead who, with Bertrand Russell, published the "Principia Mathematica" in 1910; who taught logic and mathematics at Trinity College of Cambridge University; who taught philosophy of science at University College London; and who was professor of philosophy at Harvard University beginning in 1924. Whitehead’s cosmology is far from anti-scientific, but he does explain why scientific method and technological practice alone are not able to provide a comprehensive understanding of the full range of human thought and experience. This work explains what we must do to achieve such a comprehensive understanding.Whitehead, with Bertrand Russell, published the "Principia Mathematica" in 1910; he taught logic and mathematics at Trinity College of Cambridge University; he taught philosophy of science at University College London — with special emphasis on the conceptual impact of contemporary physics; and he was professor of philosophy at Harvard University, beginning in 1924, where he taught metaphysics. Whitehead’s cosmology is far from anti-scientific, but he does explain why scientific method and technological practice alone are not able to provide a comprehensive understanding of the full range of human thought and experience.

The "Dao De Jing" exists on the border between poetry and philosophy, embracing both mythos and logos. Its poetic form can stand alone, but it is enriched when its timeless ideas are analyzed and explained through careful scholarship. For example: "He who knows others is knowledgeable. He who knows himself is wise." These words resemble Socrates’ account of his own quest in Plato’s "Apology". Ancient philosophy, both in China and in Greece, places self-knowledge at the center of the search for wisdom. Contemporary philosophers are often misled about this way of thinking, because the self has been detached from external things and separated from nature and society. The wisdom of China and of Europe unites human existence and nature.Lao Zi was a scholar responsible for the imperial archives in China. He was a contemporary of Confucius, but most of what is told about his life is considered to be legend rather than documented history. One story says that Lao Zi grew weary of the foolish ways of his fellow human beings and headed to the desert to die. On the way, the gatekeeper recognized him and persuaded him to transcribe his wisdom before leaving. Whatever its source, the "Dao De Jing" continues to shape the consciousness of human beings throughout the globe, turning the mind from the external world to the depths of the soul.

Socrates is in prison, sentenced to die when the sun sets. In this final conversation, he asks what will become of him once he drinks the poison prescribed for his execution. Socrates and his friends examine several arguments designed to prove that the soul is immortal. This quest leads him to the broader topic of the nature of mind and its connection not only to human existence but also to the cosmos itself. What could be a better way to pass the time between now and the sunset?Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

Plato’s dialogues frequently cover several topics and show their connection to each other. The "Phaedrus" is a model of that skill because of its seamless progression from examples of speeches about the nature of love to mythical visions of human nature and destiny to the essence of beauty and, finally, to a penetrating discussion of speaking and writing. It ends with an examination of the love of wisdom as a dialectical activity in the human mind.Plato lived in Athens, Greece. He wrote approximately two-dozen dialogues that explore core topics that are essential to all human beings. Although the historical Socrates was a strong influence on Plato, the character by that name that appears in many of his dialogues is a product of Plato’s fertile imagination. All of Plato’s dialogues are written in a poetic form that his student Aristotle called "Socratic dialogue." In the twentieth century, the British philosopher and logician Alfred North Whitehead characterized the entire European philosophical tradition as "a series of footnotes to Plato." Philosophy for Plato was not a set of doctrines but a goal — not the possession of wisdom but the love of wisdom. Agora Publications offers these performances based on the assumption that Plato wrote these works to be performed by actors in order to stimulate additional dialogue among those who listen to them.

"Nu skal filosofien ud til folket. Filosofferne må til at gøre gavn! De må lære sig formidlingens kunst. Ud af elfenbenstårnet! Bare ikke så højtravende, for nu skal det være: åbent universitet, indtægtsdækket virksomhed, etik, etik! Hvad nytte har man vel nogensinde haft af filosofien?"Det er blandt andet det spørgsmål, Søren Gosvig stiller i essaysamlingen "Tid og kritik". Bogen består af en række essays, som er skrevet i midten af 1980’erne. Søren Gosvig vender og drejer filosofien i et forsøg på at se den med samtidens kritiske briller i stedet for ud fra de gammeldags, fastlåste kritikpunkter.Søren Gosvig Olesen (f. 1956) er kandidat i filosofihistorie fra Sorbonne og har sidenhen blandt andet undervist på Københavns Universitet og været forskningsbibliotekar ved Det kongelige Bibliotek. Søren Gosvig Olesen står bag flere bøger om blandt andet filosofi og har desuden oversat værker af Foucault og Heidegger.

Das "Tao te king" ist ein unerschöpfliches und tiefgründiges Weisheitsbuch, das auch die Menschen außerhalb Asiens unmittelbar anzusprechen vermag. Als Verfasser dieses Werkes wird Laotse vermutet, die Textkritik geht von einer Entstehung des Textes etwa 400 vor Christus aus. Die Grundidee von Laotse besteht in der Vorstellung vom Kreislauf des Kosmos, die in der Beobachtung des Einzelnen liegt und erfahrbar wird. Basis ist die unauflösbare Einheit, deren Pole Yin (das Passive, das Dunkle, das Weibliche) und Yang (das Helle, das Aktive, das Männliche) sind. Zur Folge hat diese unauflösbare Einheit einen ständigen Wechsel von Spannung und Ausgleich, wobei die Rückkehr zum jeweiligen Gegensatz die einzige Bewegung des Tao ist. Im europäischen Sprach- und Kulturraum ist das "Tao te king" das bekannteste der Werke des chinesischen Altertums. Es ist das wohl wichtigste Werk für alle, die an der chinesischen Philosophie interessiert sind und tiefer in diese eintauchen möchten.Laotse bzw. Laozi oder Lao-tzu soll 560 v. Chr. geboren worden sein und gilt als der Begründer des philosophischen Daoismus. Teilweise ranken sich Mythen um sein Alter, er soll 160-200 Jahre alt geworden sein. Des Weiteren gibt es kaum gesicherte Kenntnisse über seine Person.

"Begrebet om naturen er vel et af vore vanskeligste begreber, svært at afgrænse eller fastholde i nogen klar betydning, men umuligt at undvære.Vi ved, hvad vi taler om, når vi taler om naturen som landskab, som den omgivende natur, vi kan se og iagttage uden for os selv. Men vi ved også, at man ikke kan skelne klart mellem hvad der er uberørt natur, og hvad der er menneskeligt bearbejdet kultur. Grænserne er flydende. Vi skaber kulturen i og af naturen, som vi selv er en del af."Medieforsker Niels Ole Finnemann beskriver de mange forskellige måder, mennesket har anskuet naturen igennem tiden, og hvilken betydning naturbegrebet har haft for samfundet. Han fortæller blandt andet om den naturvidenskabelige opfattelse, som vi ser den hos Isaac Newton, H.C. Ørsted og Niels Bohr, på det romantiske natursyn hos Adam Oehlenschläger og N.F.S. Grundtvig og om Charles Darwins fornyelse af biologien.Niels Ole Finnemann (f. 1945) er en dansk medieforsker og forfatter. I 2005 blev Niels Ole Finnemann Danmarks første professor i internetforskning ved Københavns Universitet. Han står bag en lang række udgivelser om idehistorie, kultur og kommunikation.

Med sine epokegørende studier inden for områder som erkendelsesteori, metafysik, fysik, geometri og psykologi satte den franske filosof René Descartes en helt ny dagsorden for europæisk tænkning og videnskab. 350 år efter hans død er ikke mindst hans opfattelse af den menneskelige bevidstheds natur stadig en udfordring for filosoffer, naturforskere, dataloger og psykologer og for mennesker, der anfægtes af moderne videnskabelig og teknologisk kultur. Bogen er en spændende introduktion til Descartes filosofi og kan læses af lægmand såvel som folk, der er velbevandrede i filosofiens verden.

Als einer der frühesten und bedeutendsten Denker des Abendlandes hat Parmenides (4. Jahrhundert vor Christus) mit der Einführung des Seinsbegriffs in das Gedankengut der Philosophie die Tradition der westlichen Metaphysik angebahnt.

Zero K er Don DeLillos første roman i ti år og er en mesterlig skildring af livet og kampen mod døden. Jeffrey Lockharts far, Ross, er mangemilliardær og gift med den yngre kvinde, Artis, som er uhelbredeligt syg. Ross er hovedinvestor i et afsides liggende og hemmeligt kompleks, hvor alvorligt syge mennesker fryses ned i håbet om, at de kan vende tilbage til livet den dag, hvor medicinske fremskridt ville kunne kurere dem. Jeffrey slutter sig til Ross på komplekset for at sige farvel til sin stedmor, inden hun fryses ned, da Ross fortæller, at han har i sinde at følge med hende og lade sig fryse ned. „Et af DeLillos bedste værker … DeLillo lister en hjerteskærende historie om en søn, der forsøger at genskabe forholdet til sin far, ind i en tankevækkende roman." – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

En analyse af metafysikken, specielt fra antikken og renæssancen, hvor der skelnes mellem den bastante metafysik, hvor sandheden lader sig udsige entydigt og klart, og den sofistikerede metafysik, hvor verden, livet og mennesket forbliver et mysterium.