Ontological Categories: A Methodological Guide

By Katarina Perovic

Ontology - the study of the most fundamental categories of being - lies at the very heart of metaphysics. The reason why it appears to be so central is because it takes on the following questions: What sorts of entities are there? What features do those entities have? How do they relate to one another? And so on. Section 1 of this Element presents a fast-paced historical overview of some of the notable approaches to these questions. Section 2 tells the story of how one of the oldest, most disputed, but also most developed ontological categories - universals - got introduced. Section 3 builds on the discussion of universals as it considers the desiderata for a promising system of ontological categories. And Section 4 looks at ways in which philosophers might break with tradition and explore some new ontological categories.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1009475673
• ISBN13: 9781009475679
• Release Date: February 2024
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 78 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"