Non-contradiction (College Publications)

Larry Powers' Non-contradiction is an engaging, innovative,and delightful book. It re-tells the story of Greek philosophyfrom the novel starting point that Parmenides, Plato andAristotle took their primary philosophical task to be thedefence of the principle of non-contradiction.In the course of nine chapters devoted to ancient Westernphilosophy we see Powers as the ally of the Greeks, and weget the impression that he sees their project even moreclearly than they did.The book also includes a substantial chapter that takes onthe challenge of explaining the importance of Hegel to modernanalytical philosophers, and another chapter that comparesour logical ways with those of ancient Indian and Chinesethinkers, such as Dignaga and Chuang Tsu.Interwoven with Powers' exposition of the history of philosophyis a primer on his own meta-philosophy, a theory devoted to theanalysis and resolution of philosophical disagreements.Especially those with an interest in logic and metaphysics willwant to study this book: throughout, the argumentation isoriginal, insightful, provocative, persistent and stimulating.