Dr. John Vervaeke
Philosophical Connections: Relational Ontology and the Modern Crisis
Nov 22, 2024
James Filler, author of 'Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being', shares insights into the principles of relational ontology, asserting that relationships are fundamental to understanding reality. He explores the philosophical conflict between Parmenides and Heraclitus and its relevance to modern science. Their conversation meanders through the complexities of Eastern and Western Christianity, critiques of substance ontology, and the dynamic interplay of ancient philosophy with contemporary ethics. Filler's upcoming work promises to deepen these discussions.
01:16:08
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Quick takeaways
- James Filler argues that understanding reality through relationality rather than isolated substances offers profound implications for ontology and knowledge.
- The discussion highlights a significant intersection between relational ontology and contemporary scientific theories, emphasizing interconnectedness over individuality in disciplines like physics and biology.
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Core Argument of Relationality
The discussion centers on the argument that reality should be understood primarily in terms of relationality rather than as a collection of isolated substances. James Filler emphasizes that traditional Aristotelian substance ontology fails to account for the necessity of relations, asserting that we must first acknowledge that relations exist prior to individually existing things. This means that intelligibility and understanding arise from relational contexts, which provide the framework for our knowledge and existence. The key point here is that our conventional views limit our grasp of reality by prioritizing substances over relationships, ultimately obscuring the complex and interconnected nature of existence.
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