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The Chinese Tao and the Western Trinity have a fundamental unity of theme: the unity of opposites. Both are connected with problems as broad and diverse as how to describe the entire universe, how a system can talk about itself, the relationship between symbols and realities, and the nature of signs and sacraments.

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Introduction 1. The Being of Illusion 2. The Greeks and Greek Issues 3. Plato and Followers 4. Aquinas 5. Being and Appearance Conclusion Appendix One: Why Triads? Appendix Two: Eriugena

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Scott Austin is Senior Associate Professor of Philosophy at Texas A&M University, USA.

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