The Invention of Philosophical Rationality: An Introduction to Philosophy by Way of the Presocratics By Fulvio di Blasi Fulvio Di Blasi’s The Invention of Philosophical Rationality explores the foundational role of Presocratic philosophy in shaping Western thought....
The Invention of Philosophical Rationality: An Introduction to Philosophy by Way of the Presocratics by Fulvio Di Blasi
The Invention of Philosophical Rationality: An Introduction to Philosophy by Way of the Presocratics
By Fulvio di Blasi
Fulvio Di Blasi’s The Invention of Philosophical Rationality explores the foundational role of Presocratic philosophy in shaping Western thought. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates philosophy, science, and theology, Di Blasi argues that early Greek thinkers were not merely precursors to modern science but authentic philosophers who pioneered rational inquiry. He emphasizes the transition from mythology to rationality, as seen in the works of Thales, Heraclitus, and Pythagoras, where logos (reason) and physis (nature) became key concepts in understanding reality. The book critiques contemporary positivism, advocating for a holistic vision that acknowledges the interwoven nature of philosophy and theology. Di Blasi highlights Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas as key figures in advancing Presocratic insights, linking early metaphysical inquiries to modern philosophical debates. Written in an accessible style, the book serves as both an introduction to philosophy and a call to rethink the historical significance of early rational thought.
Paperback $29.95 | Kindle $9.99
TESTIMONIALS
“There is no better way to introduce someone to philosophy than through the ideas of the very first philosophers, the Presocratics. Fulvio di Blasi’s fine book does the job in a way that is agreeably relaxed and humorous in style without sacrificing philosophical depth.” – Edward Feser, Professor of Philosophy, Pasadena City College
“Filled with engaging, probing, and student-friendly chapter-by-chapter narratives, glossaries, study questions, and further insights and reading recommendations, Fulvio Di Blasi’s The Invention Of Philosophical Rationality is an excellent introduction to philosophy that is suitable for a wide range of audiences—including those beginning in the sciences of physics, chemistry, and engineering. The book’s centerpiece consists in Di Blasi’s (i) ‘scientific’ approach whereby he shows that the Presocratics philosophize in a continuum concerning ‘the logic of becoming’ and (ii) serious consideration, as his final chapter encapsulates, of the intensive Presocratic concern with the cosmic place and role of divinity. While working through Presocratic philosophy in a manner pleasing to Aristotle in Metaphysics 1, Di Blasi straightforwardly and perceptively introduces his reader to the discipline of philosophy and to widely held philosophical presuppositions. Di Blasi’s book is a much-needed introduction To Philosophy By Way Of The Presocratics.” – Dr. Barry David, Department of Philosophy, Ave Maria University
“This is a remarkable text. When I received the manuscript, I asked why anyone would teach the Presocratics to undergraduates. But now I see that the idea is brilliant. The biggest challenge in teaching philosophy to undergraduates is to show why we do philosophy in the first place. Di Blasi takes us back to the original philosophers who asked those fundamental questions that lie at the heart not only of philosophy but of science and every other branch of learning. To contemporary minds These Presocratics may seem wrong-headed, but the questions they asked were astute and reveal the questions that we too often unconsciously pass over. Here is an excellent book to get undergraduates—and perhaps the rest of us—thinking aright.” – Dr. Adrian J Reimers, Professor of Philosophy, Holy Cross College, South Bend, Indiana
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FULVIO DI BLASI is an attorney (Italy), a legal mediator, and a Thomistic philosopher, having earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Palermo. He directs the Thomas International Center for Philosophical Studies (United States) and has taught at the University of Notre Dame (United States), the LUMSA Law School (Italy), the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome) and the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (Poland). He is also a member of the Italian Society of Medicine (SIM) National Scientific Committee and represents SIM in the COVID inquiry commission of the Italian Senate.
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