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Title: The Metaphysics: Aristotle (Great Books in Philosophy) by Aristotle, John H. McMahon ISBN: 0-87975-671-3 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: May, 1991 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.43 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Metaphysics.
Comment: You should first note that, when choosing a volume such as this, the quality of the translation is of primary importance. In my experience, one of three publishers who consistently offer outstanding translations of classic philosophical and literary texts is Penguin Classics. To avoid poor translations, please notice reviewer complaints about volumes offered by certain other publishers.
In this work, Aristotle first exposes what he finds to be the logical errors of earlier thinkers. Although he recurrently trains his fire even on his old teacher, Plato, Aristotle's system of thought does not finally escape Platonism. This volume presents several major undertakings, [1] Aristotle's logic, [2] his systematic definitions and arguments as to the nature and priority of "substance", relative aspects of actuality, potentiality, process, differentia, unity and multiplicity, and [3] his theology (First Philosophy). From Book Gamma: "There must be some one science that gives an account of all... and that also gives an account of substance... of that which is one qua that which is one and of that which is qua that which is... The shortcoming of current examinations of these topics is not their failure to be philosophy, but the priority of substance, on which the current philosophical consensus has no view. There are affections peculiar to [quantification as being quantification]... in the same way there are peculiarities of that which is just qua that which is. And it is the truth about these that the philosopher is after." While Aristotle is often said to be the ideological godfather of so-called positivism (a particularly dogmatic species of materialism), he would reject the title. So-called positivists tend to proudly insist that they reject metaphysics. The obvious problem with this assertion is that it is itself metaphysical (as Aristotle would immediately point out). Throughout most of the history of systematic thought, metaphysics has been seen as the supreme discipline (Isaac Newton, the greatest of physicists and mathematicians, found physics and mathematics to be less fascinating than theology, as had Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal). But the Enlightenment brought with it a rather paranoiac suspicion of pure reason, and especially of First Philosophy. Aristotle would strongly disapprove; "It is, however, vital not to overlook the question of what it is to be a thing and the definitional account of how it is what it is. If we leave these out, scientific inquiry is mere shadow boxing." (Epsilon 1)
Some discourses of The Metaphysics are surprisingly readable, some are quite esoteric, some are puzzling (perhaps even to Aristotle?). Are Socrates and what-it-was-to-be Socrates identical? The author seems to think yes, at least in some sense. The exhaustive attempts to define essence, substance, and yes, definition itself (in Books Zeta and Eta), serve to demonstrate why many presume to avoid metaphysics. Those who call themselves positivists probably won't read this particular work of Aristotle, perhaps claiming even to be proud that they didn't "waste" their time with it. Indeed, some discussions seem merely confusing. Book Kappa revisits arguments and questions introduced earlier, and Aristotle presents his fully developed theology, at times elegant and at times incongruent, in the final chapters of Lambda. For the student of philosophy this remains an important book, one that is foundational to the science of being, metaphysics.
Rating: 1
Summary: Good book, bad translation
Comment: Aristotle's "Metaphysics" is superb, no question about it. But this edition ("Prometheus Books" edition, translated by John McMahon--I am NOT referring to the "Penguin Books" edition, translated by Hugh Lawson) is greatly deficient. The translation is horrible, using expressions that are not used in today's English, e.g. "superficies" where other translations have "surface," etc. This edition has no index, no glossary, no notes or commentaries. It's really worthless. Again, Aristotle's work itself is great, but this edition and translation is not worth your money. Get a different one. The best translation is said to be W.D. Ross's, but Lawson's is said to be alright, too.
Rating: 4
Summary: translation is everything
Comment: I love Aristotle and his Metaphysics is absolutely amazing. But the Prometheus Books translation, translated by John McMahon, is not exactly great. The translation itself is fine, but it's obvious that minimal effort was put into the book as a whole.... ie: there's no index of terms or people. If at all possible, I would recomend getting a different (and hopefully more useful) translation.
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Title: De Anima/on the Soul by Aristotle, Hugh Lawson-Tangred, Hugh Lawson-Tancred ISBN: 0140444718 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1987 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Physics (Oxford World's Classics) by Aristotle, Robin Waterfield, David Bostock ISBN: 0192835866 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: July, 1999 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: The Nicomachean Ethics (Oxford World's Classics) by Aristotle, David Ross, W. D. Ross, J. L. Ackrill, J. O. Urmson ISBN: 019283407X Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: June, 1998 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: The Republic by Plato ISBN: 0486411214 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 18 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $2.50 |
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Title: The Politics by Aristotle, T.A. Sinclair, Trevor J. Saunders ISBN: 0140444211 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1992 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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