Illustrations of being

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Graeme Nicholson explores the fundamental topic of ontology, addressing the question of what it means to exist. He presents humans as "existers" and "disclosers," reflecting Heidegger's concept of Dasein. While drawing from Heidegger's philosophy, Nicholson offers an interpretation that sets aside deconstructionist and pragmatist readings. He emphasizes that being is a union of presence and absence, arguing that metaphysical theories have historically provided positive illustrations of being. The study examines four key determinations of being in Western thought: being as substance in Greek ontology; being as reality from Descartes to Kant, influencing nineteenth- and twentieth-century science; the logic of being, where Nicholson critiques mathematical logic; and being as the transformation of form, a concept that spans from Christian patristics to Hegel, Marx, and modern dialectics. Nicholson's work is notable for its openness to traditional metaphysics and critiques the deconstructionist aim to transcend it. This study will appeal to professional philosophers, theologians, graduate students, and the general public interested in philosophical discussions about the nature of being.