Prof. Dr. Vassil Vidinsky
Sofia University
https://doi.org/10.53656/phil2024-04-03
Abstract. The article addresses key ontological issues related to the book “What is Ontology? Counter Definitions” (2023) by Dimitar Vatsov and Boyan Manchev. The analysis is divided into five parts: (1) The first part outlines the
broader philosophical context and the contemporary Bulgarian intellectual
milieu. (2) The second part examines the discourse on what exists, how ontology
is conducted, whether it can be normative, and critically assesses whether this
discipline can be considered subjective. (3) The third part is brief, highlighting
the limitations of using definitions and axioms in philosophy. (4) The fourth part
explores specific case studies: existence as a quality, actuality as presentism, the
role of contingency, the resistance and mutation of bodies, and concludes with the
central theme of natural language and its relationship to existence. (5) The final
section highlights several strengths of the book and calls for broader discussion
within the philosophical community.
Keywords: ontology; dynamics; actuality; subject; contingency; language.
