Introduction to Metaphysics

Summary

This lecture introduces metaphysics, a branch of philosophy with ancient Greek origins, focusing on the ultimate nature of reality. It explores the historical development of metaphysics, from Aristotle's 'first philosophy' to the Continental rationalists' distinction between general and special metaphysics. The lecture also discusses contemporary issues in ontology, such as the existence of universals, and the views of philosophers like Ludvig Wittgenstein and Peter van Inwagen on the limits of metaphysical inquiry. Wittgenstein's perspective, in particular, questions the sensibility of metaphysical questions, suggesting they are not false but nonsensical, transcending the expressible.

Takeaways

• 📚 Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy with roots going back to the ancient Greeks, alongside ethics, epistemology, and logic.
• 🌊 Emanuel Kant described metaphysics as a 'bottomless abyss' and 'dark ocean without a shore,' while William James saw it as an 'unusually obstinate way to think'.
• 🔍 The script aims to provide an introduction to metaphysics, examining its history, subject matter, and the views of 20th-century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.
• 📖 The term 'metaphysics' originated from Aristotle's works, which were published after his 'Physics,' and it came to represent an entire philosophical discipline.
• 🧐 Metaphysics is often defined as the study of the ultimate nature of reality, but this can be vague to those unfamiliar with the field.
• 🔑 Two central themes of metaphysics are the study of first causes (unchanging origins of the world) and the study of being or existence.
• 🤔 Continental rationalists in the 17th and 18th centuries differentiated between 'General metaphysics' (ontology) and 'Special metaphysics' (cosmology, rational psychology, natural theology).
• 🌐 Ontologists today focus on identifying the fundamental categories of being, such as properties, numbers, events, relations, souls, material objects, or universals.
• 🤷‍♂️ Some philosophers, including Ludwig Wittgenstein, are skeptical about the ability to answer metaphysical questions, suggesting that many are not false but nonsensical.
• 💬 Wittgenstein believed that philosophical propositions often do not state facts but appear as propositions without factual content, leading to nonsense when discussing the inexpressible.
• 🌟 Despite his skepticism, Wittgenstein appreciated metaphysics, considering great metaphysical writings as noble achievements of the human mind.

Q & A

What did Emanuel Kant refer to metaphysics as?

Emanuel Kant referred to metaphysics as a 'bottomless abyss' and a 'dark ocean without a shore.'

How did William James describe metaphysics?

William James described metaphysics as 'nothing but an unusually obstinate way to think clearly.'

What is the historical origin of the term 'metaphysics'?

The term 'metaphysics' originates from the title given to one of Aristotle's works, which literally means 'after physics' and was published after his work on physics.

What are the two main themes of metaphysics according to Aristotle?

The two main themes of metaphysics according to Aristotle are the study of first causes and the study of being or existence.

What is the difference between General metaphysics and Special metaphysics as defined by the Continental rationalists?

General metaphysics, also known as ontology, is the study of being or existence at a broad fundamental level. Special metaphysics, on the other hand, addresses more specific questions concerning existence, such as cosmology, rational psychology, and natural theology.

What is the focus of ontologists in the present day?

Present day ontologists focus on providing accounts or inventories of the things that do exist, identifying the fundamental categories of being, rather than just the concept of existence itself.

What is the oldest question of ontology that is still debated today?

The oldest question of ontology still debated today is whether universals exist and, if so, what their characteristics are.

What are some of the specific topics addressed by contemporary metaphysicians?

Contemporary metaphysicians address topics such as the nature of time and space, the mind-body problem, causality, what it means to be a person, and the problem of free will.

What are the three questions that Peter Van Inwagen believes encapsulate the subject matter of contemporary metaphysics?

The three questions are: 1) What are the most general features of the world and what sorts of things does it contain? 2) What is the world like, and why does the world exist with the features and content described in the first question? 3) What is our place in the world and how do we humans fit into it?

What was Ludwig Wittgenstein's view on the ability to answer metaphysical questions?

Ludwig Wittgenstein was skeptical about the ability to answer metaphysical questions, stating that most propositions and questions found in philosophical works are not false but nonsensical.

What did Ludwig Stein mean when he said that most philosophical propositions and questions are not false but rather nonsensical?

Ludwig Stein meant that philosophical propositions do not misstate facts because they do not state any facts at all. They merely look like propositions but are not in the strict sense, resulting in nonsense when attempting to express the inexpressible.

What was Ludwig Stein's view on the great metaphysical writings of the past?

Ludwig Stein regarded the great metaphysical writings of the past as among the noblest productions of the human mind, despite his belief that many metaphysical questions transcend the world and are inexpressible.