Order in Multiplicity Homonymy in the Philosophy of Aristotle [Paperback]

Aristotle attaches particular significance to the homomyny of many of the central concepts in philosophy and science: that is, to the diversity of ways of being that are denoted by a single concept. Shields here investigates and evaluates Aristotle's approach to questions about homonymy, characterizing the metaphysical and semantic commitments necessary to establish the homonymy of a given concept. Then, in a series of case studies, he examines in detail some of Aristotle's principal applications of homonymy--to the body, sameness and oneness, life, goodness, and being. This first full-length study of a central aspect of Aristotle's thought will interest philosophers working in a number of areas.

Part I: Homonymy as Such
1. The Varieties of Homonymy
2. The Promises and Problems of Homonymy
3. Signification
4. Core-Dependent Homonymy
Part II: Homonymy at Work
5. The Body
6. Oneness, Sameness, and Referential Opacity
7. The Meaning ofLife
8. Goodness
9: Being.
Afterword: Homonymy's Promise Reconsidered
Index Locorum
General Index
Bibliography

This volume is quite helpful and makes a significant contribution to contemporary Aristotelian studies. --Religious Studies Review

Shields...illuminates and technically formalizes an aspect of ancient dialectics, if not also some small corner of a more profound puzzle of language. --Choice

In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Shields provides....a taxonomy of homonymy which shall be of great benefit to scholars wanting to pursue research on certain key Aristotelian concepts, such as 'justice,' 'friendship,' and 'cause' --Ethics