Historical Dictionary of Metaphysics: (Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series)

Metaphysics is what Aristotle described as "the First Philosophy" or "first science," a comprehensive inquiry into the ultimate nature of reality. As such, metaphysics consists of a systematic study of the more general categories of being and of the more general ways of relating entities. The Historical Dictionary of Metaphysics focuses on metaphysics in Western philosophy, the metaphysical tradition that developed under the influence of Greek philosophy, and especially Plato and Aristotle. It offers a comprehensive guide to the many facets of metaphysics through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 300 cross-referenced dictionary entries on concepts, people, works, and technical terms. This volume is an invaluable resource for student and scholar alike.

About the Author :
Gary S. Rosenkrantz is professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Joshua Hoffman is professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Review :
Rosenkrantz and Hoffman (both, philosophy, Univ. of North Carolina, Greensboro) have written a volume on metaphysics in the Western tradition as developed under the influence of Greek philosophers. The text offers over 300 cross-referenced entries, in alphabetical order and of varying lengths, on metaphysicians from Thales of Miletus (c. 6250-545 B.C.E.) to Harty H. Field (b. 1956); key concepts like free will, God, personal identity, and the mind-body problem; and areas of thought including idealism, essentialism, and deism. Also included are a chronology, an excellent introduction, a list of symbols, and a bibliography. The editors know their subject matter and provide clear and understandable entries. Metaphysics is one of the major branches of Western philosophy, having survived in one form or another from the pre-Socratics of ancient Greece to Anglo-American philosophers of the present. Beyond that, any definition is subject to dispute, metaphysics having undergone vast developments and elaborations in its long history, whose major figures, concepts, and arguments this book summarizes in hundreds of brief entries. A chronology, introduction, and bibliography give chronological and conceptual shape to the alphabetically organized dictionary section. A 3-page chart of logical symbols with definitions and examples prepares the reader for their use in various entries; fortunately for nonphilosophers, logical symbols are used sparingly.... Authors Rosenkrantz and Hoffman, both longtime faculty members at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, provide an indispensable guide to almost anyone (short of a professor of metaphysics) intent on understanding a typical publication by or about virtually any of the figures discussed. Historical Dictionary of Metaphysics will be useful for undergraduate students-philosophy majors or not-taking courses regarding the metaphysical works, and associated concepts, of these philosophers. Graduate students and professors reading outside their philosophical specialties should find help here (not least in the 30-page bibliography, preceded by a brief bibliographical essay). This is number 103 in Scarecrow's Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements series. Recommended for academic libraries or anywhere philosophy is taught. Rosenkrantz and Hoffman (both, UNC, Greensboro) follow the standard format for Scarecrow's "Historical Dictionary" series, providing a list of symbols, chronology, introduction, alphabetical entries, and bibliography for the subject of metaphysics in the Western philosophical tradition from ancient Greece to the present. The entries, which cover key concepts and philosophers, are clearly written and instill in the reader a wish to learn more about the topics covered. Knowledge of these topics is facilitated by the cross-referencing system but hampered by the lack of bibliographies for individual entries. A general bibliography appears at the end of the work. Appropriate and useful for novices, this dictionary lacks the breadth, depth, and nuance provided in the standard one-volume encyclopedia for the subfield, A Companion to Metaphysics (2nd ed., CH, Oct'09, 47-0789), edited by Rosenkrantz, J. Kim, and E. Sosa. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and general readers. Does a good job explicating terms and ideas.