Benjamin provides new and important readings of key canonical texts in the history of philosophy in this sustained philosophical reworking of ontology. Amongst texts included are Hegel's "Difference Essay" and the "Shorter Logic" and Heidegger's "Time and Being" and "The Question of Being". The effective presence of ontology, defined as "an original difference", should be familiar to readers of his earlier writings. This book represents a thorough and original contribution to contemporary philosophy to date.