Die Existenz der Welt

This introduction to ontology presents the history of Western philosophy as a continuous struggle between the giants and gods of Plato's Sophists. On one side are the philosophers who hold the view that only the physical universe exists, while on the other side are those who insist that there is a much larger world that also includes timeless and non-spatial entities, such as properties. The author discusses this important metaphysical debate in detail, which underlies the conflict between naturalists and ontologists. The book begins with an examination of the historical confrontation between nominalists and realists regarding the problem of universals. Following this, the author explores the nature and existence of categories such as relations, structures, numbers, and facts. In the final part, he argues that existence and negation are not categories but rather features of the world. The introduction to ontology also serves as an introduction to philosophy as a whole, characterized by clarity, good comprehensibility, and a lively style.