In Aims: A Brief Metaphysics for Today, James W. Felt turns his attention to combining elements of Thomas Aquinas's metaphysics, especially its deep ontology, with Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy to arrive at a new possibility for metaphysics. In his distinctive style, Felt concisely pulls together the strands of epistemology, ontology, and teleology, synthesizing these elements into his own "process-enriched Thomism."
Aims does not simply discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each philosopher's position, but blends the two into a cohesive argument based on principles derived from immediate experience. Felt arrives at what he calls a "Whiteheadian-type solution,"appealing to his original concept of the "essential aim"as necessary for understanding our existence in a coherent yet unique world. This concise, finely crafted discussion provides a thoroughly teleological, value-centered approach to metaphysics. Aims, an experiment in constructive metaphysics, is a thorough and insightful project in modern philosophy. It will appeal to philosophers and students of philosophy interested in enriching their knowledge of contemporary conceptions of metaphysics.
About the Author :
James W. Felt, S.J., is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Santa Clara University. His previous books are Making Sense of Your Freedom: Philosophy for the Perplexed (Cornell University Press, 1994; reprinted by University of Notre Dame Press, 2005); Coming To Be: Toward a Thomistic-Whiteheadian Metaphysics of Becoming (State University of New York Press, 2001); and Human Knowing: A Prelude to Metaphysics (University of Notre Dame Press, 2005).
Review :
"With modifications to both Aquinas and Whitehead and their complementary interplay, and in contrast to the priority usually given to effective or originating causality, the author argues for the interactive pre-eminence of teleology (aim) and existence (esse) in the promotion and enhancement of cosmic and interpersonal value. In so doing he seeks to restore to the transcendental Good its appropriate place and role." —Kenneth Schmitz, University of Toronto
"There is a welcome freshness and easy-access approach in this creative presentation of the central philosophical discipline, metaphysics. It starts firmly anchored in our human experience, then moves easily into deeper waters of a proposed Aquinas-Whitehead synthesis." —W. Norris Clarke, S.J., Fordham University
"James Felt's Aims: A Brief Metaphysics for Today is an excellent book. It is engagingly written with exemplary clarity, compactness of expression, and admirable thoughtfulness. It is a work in constructive metaphysics that offers a marvelous introduction to the beginner, as well as being engaging to the advanced student. While Aims shows the main influences of Aquinas and Whitehead, with Bergson and Merleau-Ponty also important, more importantly it gives expression to the singular appropriation of some of the basic metaphysical issues by James Felt himself. It develops a view of relational realism, with lucid expositions of themes such as the nature of primary being, the act of existing, freedom, participation and God, and the nature of self-knowledge. It distills the author's long reflection on these issues and communicates his considered insights with measured lucidity." —William Desmond, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
"Combines the fundamentals of Thomas Aquinas' metaphysics with Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy. [Felt] weaves together threads of epistemology, ontology and teleology in order to create 'process-enriched Thomism.'" —Santa Clara Magazine
"This book lives up to its title. It is brief, and it presents a metaphysics that, although influenced in fundamental ways by Aquinas, is made contemporary by the contributions of Whitehead and by the author's highly original efforts to bring about a synthesis between the two." —Catholic Library World
"This is a very engaging exploration into a philosophical terrain where few nowadays care to venture, one that has been subjected to much deconstruction in recent times. . . . Even if we do not always agree with where Felt wants to take us in this onto-teleology, as we read the book we cannot help but get engaged in the unassuming and rigorous exploration that it presents as a result of a long life of reflecting and teaching this difficult subject. We should be thankful for the publication of such a good model for teaching metaphysics as we learn it and for learning metaphysics as we teach it." —Philosophy Reviews
"The notion of teleology is deeply embedded in the origins of Western philosophy as exemplified by Aristotelian philosophy. James W. Felt's book, entitled Aims: A Brief Metaphysics for Today, attempts to continue this tradition by constructing a teleological, or goal-oriented, or metaphysics in a succinct and easily accessible work of philosophy. Felt draws upon the work of Aristotle, and more often on that of Aquinas and Whitehead, through a method of phenomenological interpretation. . . . Felt's book not only provides a wealth of thought provoking phenomenological description about human experience, but it additionally raises some interesting questions about the process of philosophical investigation." —Dialogue
