Towards Creative Astonishment : A Metaxological Approach to Design

Abstract

This study offers a philosophical hermeneutic of design. It aims to achieve this by exploring William Desmond’s metaphysics, specifically his fourfold sense of being, and how it relates to design. Desmond’s fourfold sense of being is a valuable lens through which to understand being and the dynamic relations that constitute being. It consists of the following: the univocal sense of being; the equivocal sense of being; the dialectical sense of being; and the metaxological sense of being. This study suggests that Desmond’s fourfold sense of being not only speaks to the rich complexity of being, but can also be a valuable lens through which to understand the ontological richness of design and to explore different approaches to problem-solving methodologies in design.