How did our universe come to be? Does God exist? Does time ow? What are we? Do we have free will? What is truth? Metaphysics is concerned with the nature of ourselves and the world around us. This clear and accessible introduction covers the central topics in metaphysics in a concise but comprehensive way. Brian Garrett discusses the crucial concepts and arguments of metaphysics in a highly readable manner. This third edition has been thoroughly revised. Most chapters include new and updated material, and there are now two chapters devoted to attacks on free will and fatalism.
Autorentext
Brian Garrett is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the Australian National University, Australia.
Zusammenfassung
How did our universe come to be? Does God exist? Does time flow? What are we? Do we have free will? What is truth? Metaphysics is concerned with the nature of ourselves and the world around us. This clear and accessible introduction covers the central topics in metaphysics in a concise but comprehensive way. Brian Garrett discusses the crucial concepts and arguments of metaphysics in a highly readable manner. He addresses the following key areas of metaphysics: God Existence Modality Universals and particulars Facts Causation Time Puzzles of material constitution Free will & determinism Fatalism Personal identity Truth This third edition has been thoroughly revised. Most chapters include new and updated material, and there are now two chapters devoted to attacks on free will and fatalism. What is this thing called Metaphysics? contains many helpful student-friendly features, such as a glossary of important terms, study questions, annotated further reading, and a guide to web resources. Text boxes provide bite-sized summaries of key concepts and major philosophers, and clear and interesting examples are used throughout.
Inhalt
Preface to the third edition
Introduction
1. God
2. What are we?
3. Existence
4. Modality
5. Objects and Properties
6. Causation
7. Time: The Fundamental Issue
8. Time: Four Puzzles
9. Fatalism
10. Freewill and Determinism
11. Puzzles of Material Constitution and Identity
12. Facts
13. Truth
Glossary
Index