The Elements of MetaphysicsThis introduction to metaphysics provides a concise explanation and discussion of the branch of philosophy that concerns the nature of the world we inhabit. The approach is partly historical but focuses largely on recent arguments and lines of thought. William Carter addresses many issues, among them: the nature of mind, matter, ideas, and substance; the debate between those who believe human beings have free will and those who subscribe to determinism; fatalism, realism, and personal identity; and arguments for and against belief in the existence of God. He also explores the implications of such intellectual exercises for defining the boundaries of human knowledge and human responsibility. Woven into the authors discussion are the ideas of historical and contemporary figures who have made significant philosophical contributions in these areas. Carter tries to eliminate the intimidation that the term 'metaphysics' can generate among students and general readers. Demonstrating how metaphysics overlaps extensively with nearly every branch of philosophical inquiry, he provides contemporary and often amusing examples to introduce the important topics of metaphysics and make current technical debates comprehensible for novices. |
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act freely actions actual world Alexander Campbell Fraser Alice analysis argue Aristotle atheist attend the concert believe Benson Mates Berkeley body brain bundle theory Caesar Cambridge University Press causally determined causes Chapter collection of experiences collection of ideas collection of molecules common sense concept concerning conclude consider D. H. Mellor David Hume decision deny Derek Parfit Descartes deterministic divine foreknowledge Eiffel Tower Elizabeth Anscombe England Essay event wherein fact fail false fire truck follows God's existence human Hume hypothesis identified immaterial individual instantiated Jack Jack's Jill will refuse Jill's kind of thing lawlike Leibniz located Locke material substance mereological change metaphysical necessary objects ontological argument Oxford University Press Perhaps Peter Geach Philosophical possible worlds precisely present problem qualities question Realism reason refuse the job reject rose seems statement substantial things Suppose supremely perfect theorists Thomas Nagel tion true truth world we inhabit Yahweh York