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Metaphysics
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Philosophy
Publisher's Summary
Aristotle's Metaphysics was the first major study of the subject of metaphysics - in other words, an inquiry into 'first philosophy', or 'wisdom'. It differs from Physics, which is concerned with the natural world: things which are subject to the laws of nature, things that move and change, are measurable. In Metaphysics, the study falls on 'being qua being' - being insofar as it is being; the causes and principles of being, the causes and principles of substances. Aristotle asks, what is existence? How can things continue to exist yet change, and how can we best understand the world we live in?
The work as it has come down to us is a compilation of Aristotle's writing on the subject made in Alexandria in the first century CE, and it proved enormously influential from the Greeks onward, through the medieval and Renaissance periods. In Metaphysics, Aristotle absorbed Plato's view that nature is eternal and unchangeable while accepting that we live in a world that appears full of change. A challenging work, Metaphysics is divided into 14 books. It begins with the causes of things and questions the existence of God, the understanding of 'being' and the concept of 'substance'. It proceeds to consider 'actuality', 'potentiality' and 'unity'.
This first recording, using the clear translation by W. D. Ross, is presented in a measured and comprehensible manner by James Cameron Stewart.
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What listeners say about Metaphysics
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- George C.
- 31-01-19
For Academics
This is a book for academics. It is dry and frankly more like a never ending logic lecture. If you progressed to this book from Plato's Dialogs, as I did, you will be disappointed. The spirited conversations about what is “virtue” are replaced by a monolithic interpretations about the significance of wood and wooden. I am not saying that this book in no one. But it wasn’t for me. Perhaps I should have done a “Great Courses” on Aristotle first.
The performance was fine.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mohad Cheridi
- 20-01-18
Very challenging indeed ...
The narrator is very good...Ukemi produces excellent audiobooks.I wish they would do more.
I was expecting a difficult read and so it was...I'll have to listen many many times to begin to understand...unfortunately time is limited and so many books to listen ..
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dino Valente
- 31-05-17
More relevant and needed than ever before!!!
Philosophy at it's best. Everything from Descartes onwards has been a total flop.
The solution is Aristotle. Where science at it's best is philosophy and where philosophy at it's best is science.
The narrator has really made this book come alive.
10 out of 10
14 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jesse
- 26-08-20
Chapter navigation
Really appreciate the brief summaries at the beginning of each chapter. They make it much easier to navigate. Now if only they could give the chapters descriptive titles in the table of contents!
2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Dan
- 13-01-21
A dispute of historical theories
Aristotle opines on the historic theories that preceded his ontology in somewhat painful detail.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chesterton Cobb
- 29-12-20
Wow.
Worth rereading a hundred times until it makes sense. The reader does an incredible job with a very dry text.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 16-08-20
Heavy going but very rewarding
This book requires high levels of concentration to gain from what’s being said, however is quite a reward if your up for it.