Posted by Mike on January 12, 19102 at 01:20:42:

In Reply to: metaphysics posted by Louise on July 19, 19101 at 09:49:48:

Take great care. Much of what pes for metaphysics in bookstores is complete trash. Metaphysics deals with such issues as ontology (the study of the nature of being or existing) and free will vs. determinism. It can be applied to areas like philosophy of religion (i.e. questions about the nature of God), political philosophy (Do natural or human rights exist? If so, what is their source and what is their nature?), and numerous other branches of philosophy.

The word comes from Aristotle’s Metaphysics. Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, and other great philosophers have done work in metaphysics. Some modern philosophers claim that we cannot answer metaphysical questions and the study is futile, but even these will recognize the greatness of the above philosophers thought, wrong as they think it may be.

The books you find in the local bookstore under “Metaphysics” may be of these types, but more often they are new age garbage that has nothing to do with real metaphysics. They do not deal with real metaphysical questions or use philosophic reasoning, instead relying on feel good emotional gobbledygook and mysticism. While they may be a quicker, more interesting read than the dryness of Aristotle or Aquinas or the complexity of Kant.

Your best bet is to go to a GOOD philosophy section in a bookstore or library (likely a university library) and pick out some anthologies or introductions with short pieces on metaphysics and its applications. This will give you an idea of where you want to take it with more in-depth readings.

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