R&L Logo R&L Logo
  • GENERAL
    • Browse by Subjects
    • New Releases
    • Coming Soon
    • Chases's Calendar
  • ACADEMIC
    • Textbooks
    • Browse by Course
    • Instructor's Copies
    • Monographs & Research
    • Reference
  • PROFESSIONAL
    • Education
    • Intelligence & Security
    • Library Services
    • Business & Leadership
    • Museum Studies
    • Music
    • Pastoral Resources
    • Psychotherapy
  • FREUD SET
Cover Image
Paperback
share of facebook share on twitter
Add to GoodReads

Complexity and Analysis

Stewart Umphrey

Wherever we look, we notice complexity. Philosophically, the concept constitutes a tangled web of problems, in theory as well as daily life. Complexity and Analysis is a meticulous rendering of these problems, tackling the seldom considered nature of complexity that confronts ontological analysts and holists alike. Stewart Umphrey expertly describes the limits of analysis as they have come to light within mathematics, the natural sciences, and analytic philosophy, explaining how Aristotle came upon, and sought to move beyond, the limits of ontological analysis. In trying to understand any complex entity, Umphrey argues, one succeeds in meeting the criterion of metaphysical adequacy only if one fails to meet the crietrion of epistemological adequacy. Ranging across an array of subjects including Kantian and Hegelian idealism, this book provides a superb account of how our own complexity presents not only theoretical problems, but ethical and political dilemmas of great practical significance.
  • Details
  • Details
  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
Lexington Books
Pages: 352 • Trim: 6 x 9
978-0-7391-0306-7 • Paperback • February 2002 • $56.99 • (£44.00)
Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics, Philosophy / Methodology
Stewart Umphrey is a tutor at St John's College, Annapolis. He is the author of Zetetic Skepticism (1990).
Chapter 1 Is Analysis Limited?
Chapter 2 Aristotle's Transanalytic Metaphysics
Chapter 3 Ways of Complexity
Chapter 4 Entities
Chapter 5 Analogy
Chapter 6 Dialectic
Chapter 7 Ways of Negation
Chapter 8 Integrity
Chapter 9 Ecstasy
Chapter 10 Community
Stewart Umphrey's Complexity and Analysis is an astounding achievement, a modern guide for those who are perplexed (whether they know it or not) about first philosophy. Umphrey's work is original, informed, critical, clear, and never loses sight of the whole. He argues that analysis is necessarily limited (with reasons analysts will understand), explores the problem of where it is possible to begin philosophy, and proceeds from an examination of the alternatives faced at each stage of the inquiry. His work is critically informed by the philosophical tradition and by contemporary work in a variety of fields; conclusions are drawn where evident, judgment is suspended whenever alternatives remain. Umphrey's intellect is rare in this age of specialization; he is a modern Leibniz, an exception to the complementarity between breadth and depth.
— William J. Edgar, SUNY - Geneseo, SUNY - Geneseo


Umphrey's work is a richly analytical, informative, and imaginative work. It is sensitive to the full range of experience. Dissecting the near, umphrey keeps an eye on the remote. Examining hypotheses, he is mindful of the alternatives. Arguing for definite views, he recognizes their shortcomings. . . Umphrey's work is of great merit.
— Philosophy in Review


It [Complexity and Analysis] is a first-rate work, written with clarity, elegance, and grace on a supremely important topic. . . .The scope of Umphrey's book is vast but there is no sacrifice of depth. Numerous topics are discussed, which is to be expected and indeed is necessary in a work on the topic of complexity, and Umphrey's knowledge of the relevant literature is impressive. . . . Umphrey's discussion of Hegel alone can stand by itself as an important contribution to philosophy.
— Panayot Butchvarov, University of Iowa


Complexity and Analysis

Cover Image
Paperback
Summary
Summary
  • Wherever we look, we notice complexity. Philosophically, the concept constitutes a tangled web of problems, in theory as well as daily life. Complexity and Analysis is a meticulous rendering of these problems, tackling the seldom considered nature of complexity that confronts ontological analysts and holists alike. Stewart Umphrey expertly describes the limits of analysis as they have come to light within mathematics, the natural sciences, and analytic philosophy, explaining how Aristotle came upon, and sought to move beyond, the limits of ontological analysis. In trying to understand any complex entity, Umphrey argues, one succeeds in meeting the criterion of metaphysical adequacy only if one fails to meet the crietrion of epistemological adequacy. Ranging across an array of subjects including Kantian and Hegelian idealism, this book provides a superb account of how our own complexity presents not only theoretical problems, but ethical and political dilemmas of great practical significance.
Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 352 • Trim: 6 x 9
    978-0-7391-0306-7 • Paperback • February 2002 • $56.99 • (£44.00)
    Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics, Philosophy / Methodology
Author
Author
  • Stewart Umphrey is a tutor at St John's College, Annapolis. He is the author of Zetetic Skepticism (1990).
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1 Is Analysis Limited?
    Chapter 2 Aristotle's Transanalytic Metaphysics
    Chapter 3 Ways of Complexity
    Chapter 4 Entities
    Chapter 5 Analogy
    Chapter 6 Dialectic
    Chapter 7 Ways of Negation
    Chapter 8 Integrity
    Chapter 9 Ecstasy
    Chapter 10 Community
Reviews
Reviews
  • Stewart Umphrey's Complexity and Analysis is an astounding achievement, a modern guide for those who are perplexed (whether they know it or not) about first philosophy. Umphrey's work is original, informed, critical, clear, and never loses sight of the whole. He argues that analysis is necessarily limited (with reasons analysts will understand), explores the problem of where it is possible to begin philosophy, and proceeds from an examination of the alternatives faced at each stage of the inquiry. His work is critically informed by the philosophical tradition and by contemporary work in a variety of fields; conclusions are drawn where evident, judgment is suspended whenever alternatives remain. Umphrey's intellect is rare in this age of specialization; he is a modern Leibniz, an exception to the complementarity between breadth and depth.
    — William J. Edgar, SUNY - Geneseo, SUNY - Geneseo


    Umphrey's work is a richly analytical, informative, and imaginative work. It is sensitive to the full range of experience. Dissecting the near, umphrey keeps an eye on the remote. Examining hypotheses, he is mindful of the alternatives. Arguing for definite views, he recognizes their shortcomings. . . Umphrey's work is of great merit.
    — Philosophy in Review


    It [Complexity and Analysis] is a first-rate work, written with clarity, elegance, and grace on a supremely important topic. . . .The scope of Umphrey's book is vast but there is no sacrifice of depth. Numerous topics are discussed, which is to be expected and indeed is necessary in a work on the topic of complexity, and Umphrey's knowledge of the relevant literature is impressive. . . . Umphrey's discussion of Hegel alone can stand by itself as an important contribution to philosophy.
    — Panayot Butchvarov, University of Iowa


ALSO AVAILABLE

  • Cover image for the book Ayahuasca as Liquid Divinity: An Ontological Approach
  • Cover image for the book Life, Death, and Meaning: Key Philosophical Readings on the Big Questions, Third Edition
  • Cover image for the book Monadological Intimacy: The Relational Operation of Folds in Leibniz and Deleuze
  • Cover image for the book The Implications of Evolution for Metaphysics: Theism, Idealism, and Naturalism
  • Cover image for the book The Science of Being as Being: Metaphysics through Aristotle
  • Cover image for the book Deep Perception: The Direct Awareness of Individual Being and the Practice of Being Who We Are
  • Cover image for the book Edith Stein's Finite and Eternal Being: A Companion
  • Cover image for the book Aristotle's Induction and the Inference of First Principles
  • Cover image for the book Knowledge and Cosmos: Development and Decline of the Medieval Perspective, 2nd Edition
  • Cover image for the book Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion: Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe
  • Cover image for the book Reconstructing Metaphorical Metaphysics in Traditional Chinese Philosophy: Meta-One and Harmony
  • Cover image for the book Virginia Woolf as a Process-Oriented Thinker: Parallels between Woolf’s Fiction and Process Philosophy
  • Cover image for the book Comparative Metaphysics: Ontology After Anthropology
  • Cover image for the book Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly Philosophy
  • Cover image for the book Nondualism: An Interreligious Exploration
  • Cover image for the book Somatic Desire: Recovering Corporeality in Contemporary Thought
  • Cover image for the book Liminality in Questions of Truth: The Law of the Included Middle
  • Cover image for the book Material Constitution: A Reader
  • Cover image for the book Peirce's Empiricism: Its Roots and Its Originality
  • Cover image for the book Rethinking Intuition: The Psychology of Intuition and its Role in Philosophical Inquiry
  • Cover image for the book Updating Bergson: A Philosophy of the Enduring Present
  • Cover image for the book Self Definition: A Philosophical Inquiry from the Global South and Global North
  • Cover image for the book Whitehead and the Pittsburgh School: Preempting the Problem of Intentionality
  • Cover image for the book Classical Indian Philosophy: An Introductory Text
  • Cover image for the book Emerson's Metaphysics: A Song of Laws and Causes
  • Cover image for the book Socializing Metaphysics: The Nature of Social Reality
  • Cover image for the book Reality, Religion, and Passion: Indian and Western Approaches in Hans-Georg Gadamer and Rupa Gosvami
  • Cover image for the book Religious Pluralism: Toward a Comparative Metaphysics of Religion
  • Cover image for the book Persistence through Time in Spinoza
  • Cover image for the book J.M.E. McTaggart: Substance, Self, and Immortality
  • Cover image for the book Creaturely Cosmologies: Why Metaphysics Matters for Animal and Planetary Liberation
  • Cover image for the book Crimes of Reason: On Mind, Nature, and the Paranormal
  • Cover image for the book Two Metaphysical Naturalisms: Aristotle and Justus Buchler
  • Cover image for the book The Human World in the Physical Universe: Consciousness, Free Will, and Evolution
  • Cover image for the book A New Theory of Human Rights: New Materialism and Zoroastrianism
  • Cover image for the book The Reality of Money: The Metaphysics of Financial Value
  • Cover image for the book Philosophy and Geography II: The Production of Public Space
  • Cover image for the book Truth Without Paradox
  • Cover image for the book Kant, Fichte, and the Legacy of Transcendental Idealism
  • Cover image for the book Martin Heidegger, Emmanuel Levinas, and the Politics of Dwelling
  • Cover image for the book Natural Kinds and Genesis: The Classification of Material Entities
  • Cover image for the book The Arguments of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason
  • Cover image for the book Nietzsche, Tension, and the Tragic Disposition
  • Cover image for the book The Importance of How We See Ourselves: Self-Identity and Responsible Agency
  • Cover image for the book Ayahuasca as Liquid Divinity: An Ontological Approach
  • Cover image for the book Life, Death, and Meaning: Key Philosophical Readings on the Big Questions, Third Edition
  • Cover image for the book Monadological Intimacy: The Relational Operation of Folds in Leibniz and Deleuze
  • Cover image for the book The Implications of Evolution for Metaphysics: Theism, Idealism, and Naturalism
  • Cover image for the book The Science of Being as Being: Metaphysics through Aristotle
  • Cover image for the book Deep Perception: The Direct Awareness of Individual Being and the Practice of Being Who We Are
  • Cover image for the book Edith Stein's Finite and Eternal Being: A Companion
  • Cover image for the book Aristotle's Induction and the Inference of First Principles
  • Cover image for the book Knowledge and Cosmos: Development and Decline of the Medieval Perspective, 2nd Edition
  • Cover image for the book Astrophilosophy, Exotheology, and Cosmic Religion: Extraterrestrial Life in a Process Universe
  • Cover image for the book Reconstructing Metaphorical Metaphysics in Traditional Chinese Philosophy: Meta-One and Harmony
  • Cover image for the book Virginia Woolf as a Process-Oriented Thinker: Parallels between Woolf’s Fiction and Process Philosophy
  • Cover image for the book Comparative Metaphysics: Ontology After Anthropology
  • Cover image for the book Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly Philosophy
  • Cover image for the book Nondualism: An Interreligious Exploration
  • Cover image for the book Somatic Desire: Recovering Corporeality in Contemporary Thought
  • Cover image for the book Liminality in Questions of Truth: The Law of the Included Middle
  • Cover image for the book Material Constitution: A Reader
  • Cover image for the book Peirce's Empiricism: Its Roots and Its Originality
  • Cover image for the book Rethinking Intuition: The Psychology of Intuition and its Role in Philosophical Inquiry
  • Cover image for the book Updating Bergson: A Philosophy of the Enduring Present
  • Cover image for the book Self Definition: A Philosophical Inquiry from the Global South and Global North
  • Cover image for the book Whitehead and the Pittsburgh School: Preempting the Problem of Intentionality
  • Cover image for the book Classical Indian Philosophy: An Introductory Text
  • Cover image for the book Emerson's Metaphysics: A Song of Laws and Causes
  • Cover image for the book Socializing Metaphysics: The Nature of Social Reality
  • Cover image for the book Reality, Religion, and Passion: Indian and Western Approaches in Hans-Georg Gadamer and Rupa Gosvami
  • Cover image for the book Religious Pluralism: Toward a Comparative Metaphysics of Religion
  • Cover image for the book Persistence through Time in Spinoza
  • Cover image for the book J.M.E. McTaggart: Substance, Self, and Immortality
  • Cover image for the book Creaturely Cosmologies: Why Metaphysics Matters for Animal and Planetary Liberation
  • Cover image for the book Crimes of Reason: On Mind, Nature, and the Paranormal
  • Cover image for the book Two Metaphysical Naturalisms: Aristotle and Justus Buchler
  • Cover image for the book The Human World in the Physical Universe: Consciousness, Free Will, and Evolution
  • Cover image for the book A New Theory of Human Rights: New Materialism and Zoroastrianism
  • Cover image for the book The Reality of Money: The Metaphysics of Financial Value
  • Cover image for the book Philosophy and Geography II: The Production of Public Space
  • Cover image for the book Truth Without Paradox
  • Cover image for the book Kant, Fichte, and the Legacy of Transcendental Idealism
  • Cover image for the book Martin Heidegger, Emmanuel Levinas, and the Politics of Dwelling
  • Cover image for the book Natural Kinds and Genesis: The Classification of Material Entities
  • Cover image for the book The Arguments of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason
  • Cover image for the book Nietzsche, Tension, and the Tragic Disposition
  • Cover image for the book The Importance of How We See Ourselves: Self-Identity and Responsible Agency
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linked in icon NEWSLETTERS
ABOUT US
  • Mission Statement
  • Employment
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Statement
CONTACT
  • Company Directory
  • Publicity and Media Queries
  • Rights and Permissions
  • Textbook Resource Center
AUTHOR RESOURCES
  • Royalty Contact
  • Production Guidelines
  • Manuscript Submissions
ORDERING INFORMATION
  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • National Book Network
  • Ingram Publisher Services UK
  • Special Sales
  • International Sales
  • eBook Partners
  • Digital Catalogs
IMPRINTS
  • Rowman & Littlefield
  • Lexington Books
  • Hamilton Books
  • Applause Books
  • Amadeus Press
  • Backbeat Books
  • Bernan
  • Hal Leonard Books
  • Limelight Editions
  • Co-Publishing Partners
  • Globe Pequot
  • Down East Books
  • Falcon Guides
  • Gooseberry Patch
  • Lyons Press
  • Muddy Boots
  • Pineapple Press
  • TwoDot Books
  • Stackpole Books
PARTNERS
  • American Alliance of Museums
  • American Association for State and Local History
  • Brookings Institution Press
  • Center for Strategic & International Studies
  • Council on Foreign Relations
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
  • Fortress Press
  • The Foundation for Critical Thinking
  • Lehigh University Press
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Other Partners...