It is still a widespread assumption that metaphysics and ontology deal with roughly the same questions. They are supposed to be concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and to give an account of the meaning of ‘existence’ or ‘being’ in line with the broadest possible metaphysical assumptions. Against this, Markus Gabriel proposes a radical form of ontological pluralism that divorces ontology from metaphysics, understood as the most fundamental theory of absolutely everything (the world). He argues that the concept of existence is incompatible with the existence of the world and therefore proposes his innovative no-world-view. In the context of recent debates surrounding new realism and speculative realism, Gabriel also develops the outlines of a realist epistemological pluralism. His idea here is that there are different forms of knowledge that correspond to the plurality of fields of sense that must be acknowledged in order to avoid the trap of metaphysics.

Markus Gabriel is one of the leaders of the revival of interest in realism in contemporary European philosophy. In this volume, he develops his own ambitious, distinctive and provocative version of the view, one that is likely to spur much discussion. -- Paul Boghossian, Silver Professor of Philosophy, New York University
Gabriel's project of a new realist ontology effortlessly bridges the gap between continental and analytic philosophy. Altogether an enviable achievement. The work is bound to provide a strong impetus to new ways of thinking about ontological questions. -- Professor Hans Sluga, William and Trudy Ausfahl Professor of Philosophy, University of California at Berkeley
This bold meditation breaks a new path beyond both anti-realism and metaphysical realism. Gabriel discloses senses as real ways for the things to be. Thus, he overcomes the metaphysical distinction between mind and world and makes sense of the reality of thinking as well. A huge step forward for philosophy. -- Professor Jocelyn Benoist, Centre of Philosophy, Sorbonne University

Markus Gabriel is Chair in Epistemology, Modern and Contemporary Philosophy at the University of Bonn. He is the author of many books and articles in German. His publications in English include Fields of Sense: A New Realist Ontology (Edinburgh University Press, 2015), The Limits of Epistemology (Polity Press, 2019), Transcendental Ontology: Essays on German Idealism (Continuum, 2011) and co-author with Slavoj Žižek of Mythology, Madness and Laughter: Subjectivity in German Idealism (Continuum, 2009).