Publisher's Synopsis
The problem of universals is an important one in the history of philosophy. It remains a crucial issue today, not only for metaphysics, but also for the philosophy of science.;Andrew-Schoedinger offers a comprehensive presentation of 28 analyses of the problem of universals from ancient and medieval philosophers to the present day. His anthology opens with analyses proposed by Plato and Aristotle and then provides selections from the views of the medieval scholars Abelard, Aquinas, Duns Scotus and Ockham. 22 more articles are then offered tracing the development of western thought on this fundamental topic from the modern through the contemporary period. To aid the student in understanding these investigations into the nature of universals, each reading is preceded by a concise explanation.;The anthology is intended for undergraduate metaphysics courses in which a portion of these readings will be utilized and also for upper-division undergraduate or graduate seminars devoted solely to the problem of universals. Since there is currently no other book of readings on the problem of universals, this text should be of interest to instructors who prefer a traditional approach to teaching metaphysics.
