Etymologically: The theory of BEING or EXISTENCE. It first appeared in print in Baily's dictionary (1721) where it is defined as "an Account of being in the
Abstract."
in the Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Computing and Information, Barry Smith defines ontology as "the science of what is, of the kinds and structures of objects, properties, events, processes and relations in every area of reality."
He further explains that
"Ontology seeks to provide a definitive and exhaustive classification of entities in all spheres of being. The classification should be definitive in the sense that it can serve as an answer to such questions as: What classes of entities are needed for a complete description and explanation of all the goings-on in the universe? Or: What classes of entities are needed to give an account of what makes true all truths? It should be exhaustive in the sense that all types of entities should be included in the classification, including also the types of relations by which entities are tied together to form larger wholes."
For a more detailed account of ontology see the pre-print version of the chapter entitled “Ontology” by Barry Smith in Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Computing and Information.
The three problems that we have explored in the Nagel text -- (1) How do we know anything? (2) Other minds, and (3) The mind-body problem. Just as these three problems ask questions about the nature of our being and existence, Judith Butler attempts to reframe -- or refocus -- the problem by changing the question from "What does it mean to be human?" to "What can a body do?" Though changing the question changes our concerns, the issues at stake remain ontological.
While reading Kafka's "Report," you should ask yourself, "What are the ontological assumptions -- the assumptions about the nature of being and existence -- that are inherent in the text?" On one hand, we might pursue this question to see how Kafka's story contributes to or critiques Philosophy's dialogue on this topic. Or we might pursue this question for the simple mental exercise of exploring a possible world: the world of the text, a world that may or may not comment on our own.
~NEW
Abstract."
in the Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Computing and Information, Barry Smith defines ontology as "the science of what is, of the kinds and structures of objects, properties, events, processes and relations in every area of reality."
He further explains that
"Ontology seeks to provide a definitive and exhaustive classification of entities in all spheres of being. The classification should be definitive in the sense that it can serve as an answer to such questions as: What classes of entities are needed for a complete description and explanation of all the goings-on in the universe? Or: What classes of entities are needed to give an account of what makes true all truths? It should be exhaustive in the sense that all types of entities should be included in the classification, including also the types of relations by which entities are tied together to form larger wholes."
For a more detailed account of ontology see the pre-print version of the chapter entitled “Ontology” by Barry Smith in Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Computing and Information.
The three problems that we have explored in the Nagel text -- (1) How do we know anything? (2) Other minds, and (3) The mind-body problem. Just as these three problems ask questions about the nature of our being and existence, Judith Butler attempts to reframe -- or refocus -- the problem by changing the question from "What does it mean to be human?" to "What can a body do?" Though changing the question changes our concerns, the issues at stake remain ontological.
While reading Kafka's "Report," you should ask yourself, "What are the ontological assumptions -- the assumptions about the nature of being and existence -- that are inherent in the text?" On one hand, we might pursue this question to see how Kafka's story contributes to or critiques Philosophy's dialogue on this topic. Or we might pursue this question for the simple mental exercise of exploring a possible world: the world of the text, a world that may or may not comment on our own.
~NEW