Ontology, or the Theory of Being

"Ontology, or the Theory of Being" by P. (Peter) Coffey is an early 20th-century philosophical exploration of metaphysics. This book serves as an English-language resource on general metaphysics from a scholastic viewpoint, highlighting how discussions from the medieval period relate to today's philosophical questions. Coffey's work covers essential ideas about being, existence, essence, and what reality is, in an attempt to connect historical philosophical insights with modern ideas. The book begins with a preface where the author explains his goal of creating this work, aiming to fill a gap in philosophical education about ontology. Coffey talks about the history of different philosophical arguments, stating that many scholastic theories from the medieval era are still important and debated in modern philosophy. He clarifies that the book won't cover epistemology, as he plans to address it in another book. The introduction prepares the reader for a thorough study of the nature of being, its main characteristics, and the link between being and knowledge, positioning the book as a basic resource for students and anyone interested in philosophy.