Beyond Essence: Ontological Instability as the Foundational Axiom for Post-Essentialist Metaphysics
This thesis examines how the principle of Ontological Instability can serve as a foundational axiom for rethinking metaphysics in a post-essentialist era. Through rigorous philosophical analysis and theoretical innovation, it is demonstrated that traditional essentialist metaphysics, grounded in assumptions of substantial stability and fixed essences, contains internal contradictions that necessitate its transformation. A comprehensive post-essentialist metaphysical framework is developed, based on five novel concepts: Fluctuational Entities, Dynamic Assemblages, Metamorphic Causation, Ontological Uncertainty Relations, and Rhizomatic Ontology. This framework is shown to dissolve traditional metaphysical problems while opening new possibilities for understanding being, causation, and reality. The thesis argues that Ontological Instability represents not merely an alternative metaphysical position but a logical necessity that emerges from the internal contradictions of traditional metaphysics itself. Through detailed analysis of visual models and comparative examination of traditional and post-essentialist approaches, it is established that this paradigm shift provides superior explanatory power for addressing contemporary philosophical challenges while maintaining theoretical rigor and systematic coherence.
Institutions
- Singapore University of Social Sciences (SG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Published
- 2025-07-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15924202
- Primary Topic
- Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00