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Overview
The Logic of Essentialism surveys the major interpretations, ancient, medieval and modern, of Aristotle's Modal Syllogistic. It presents a framework within which these competing interpretations are compared and evaluated. A new interpretation is developed, which agrees in large measure with Aristotle's text, including his theses, methods of proof, and use of examples. This interpretation reads Aristotle's modal sentences de re, and attaches considerable importance to his use of ecthesis and counter-examples. It features a formal semantic analysis that makes no reference to possible worlds, and it articulates the links, both theoretical and genetic, between the modal syllogistic and Aristotle's essentialist metaphysics.
Synopsis
The Logic of Essentialism surveys the major interpretations, ancient, medieval and modern, of Aristotle's Modal Syllogistic. It presents a framework within which these competing interpretations are compared and evaluated. A new interpretation is developed, which agrees in large measure with Aristotle's text, including his theses, methods of proof, and use of examples. This interpretation reads Aristotle's modal sentences de re, and attaches considerable importance to his use of ecthesis and counter-examples. It features a formal semantic analysis that makes no reference to possible worlds, and it articulates the links, both theoretical and genetic, between the modal syllogistic and Aristotle's essentialist metaphysics.
Booknews
Surveys the major ancient, medieval, and modern interpretations of Aristotle's Modal Syllogistic, presenting a framework within which the competing interpretations are compared and evaluated. Develops a new interpretation based on the philosopher's theses, methods of proof, and use of examples, which reads his modal sentences de re and emphasizes his use of ecthesis and counter-examples. Features a formal semantic analysis that makes no reference to possible worlds, and articulates the theoretical and genetic links between the modal syllogistic and Aristotle's essentialist metaphysics. Includes indices of axioms, rules, and systems. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)