
Aristotle's probing inquiry into some of the fundamental problems of philosophy The Metaphysics is one of the classical Greek foundation-stones of western thought translated from the with an introduction by Hugh Lawson-Tancred in Penguin Classics The Metaphysics presents Aristotle's mature rejection of both the Platonic theory that what we perceive is just a pale reflection of reality & the hard-headed view that all processes are ultimately material He argued instead that the reality or substance of things lies in their concrete forms & in so doing he probed some of the deepest questions of philosophy What is existence? How is change possible? & are there certain things that must exist for anything else to exist at all? The seminal notions discussed in The Metaphysics
- of 'substance' & associated concepts of matter & form essence & accident potentiality & actuality
- have had a profound & enduring influence & laid the foundations for one of the central branches of Western philosophy Hugh Lawson-Tancred's lucid translation is accompanied by a stimulating introduction in which he highlights the central themes of one of philosophy's supreme masterpieces Aristotle (384-22 BC) studied at the Academy of Plato for 20 years & then established his own school & research institute ' The Lyceum' His writings which were of extraordinary range profoundly affected the whole course of ancient & medieval philosophy & are still eagerly studied & debated by philosophers today If you enjoyed The Metaphysics you might like Aristotle's The Nicomachean Ethics also available in Penguin Classics