Types of properties:Types of substances:PHIL 201STUDY GUIDE: LESSON 7Introducing MetaphysicsLesson OverviewMetaphysics is the branch of philosophy that deals with questions of reality. Since it deals with literally everything that exists, it is perhaps the broadest branch of philosophy. However, we will briefly spend time in this area. In this lesson, we will introduce some of the questions that we seek to answer in metaphysics as well as some basic metaphysical terminology you will need to master as we discuss metaphysical issues. We will also discuss the issue of method in arriving at answers to our metaphysical questions.TasksReview and take notes of the presentation, “Metaphysical Terminology.”- Know the 4 characteristics of properties.1. Properties are universals-can be in more than 1 thing at a time2. Properties are immutable & eternal - do not change over time3. Properties inhere in things - must exit "in" things4. Properties do NOT have causal powers - cannot cause a thing or event to occur (Slides)- Know the 4 characteristics of substances.1. Substances are particular things - can only be in 1 place at a time2. Substances CAN change & not necessarily eternal3. Substances are "fundamental existents" - exist in themselves, not inhere4. Substances have causal powers - can cause things or events to occur (Slides)- Know the different kinds of properties and substances.Types of properties:Accidental- properties which a particular thing may or may not possess; they are not essential to what the thing is (ex. height, weight, color)Essential- properties which a particular thing must possess- they are necessary to whatthe thing is (ex. rational, emotional, willful capacities)Types of substances:Material- substances made out of matterNatural - occurs naturally (tree)Artifacts- man made (table)Immaterial- substances not made of matter (god, angels, mind)- Know the difference between property, substance, and essence.Page 1 of 4PHIL 201Property: An attribute or quality a thing is said to have (color, texture, size shape, #)Substances: That which has its being IN ITSELF and not in another thing (table, tree, hand, God)Essence: sum of the essential properties of a thing that makes it what it is "whatness" (Slides)- Know three different view of essence.1. Metaphysical Realism - actually exist2. Nominalism - only exist in name3. Conceptualism - exist as an idea in our minds (Slides)Read Chapter 1 of Metaphysics: Constructing a World View, “Introducing Metaphysics.” As you do, make sure you understand the following points and questions:- Explain the 3 metaphysical questions.1. What is real?2. What is ultimately real?3. What is man's place in what is real?(pgs. 13-17)- What is the meaning of ultimately real?The ultimate constituents of such objects, what they really consist of, is something very different from physical objects as we ordinarily think of them. (pg. 15 )- Why is “man’s place in the real” significant?Humans would seem to be either the highest, most complex and elaborate products of nature, or else the visible link between nature and something beyond nature. (pg. 16)- Know the method for doing metaphysics and the 2 rules of thumb.Seeking to have good reasons for the assertions we make, not basing our statements onour beliefs (prejudices, hunches, what others have told us), but sticking to what we have good reason to believe. We prove something by showing its' truth by reasoning based on other things we know to be true. (pg. 18)- Identify the 3 kinds of beliefs we may take as our staring point in metaphysical investigation.1. Beliefs based on prejudices2. Beliefs based on hunches3. Beliefs because someone told us it was so.(pg. 18)- Explain the role of authority in metaphysical investigation including the different types ofauthorities.Page 2 of 4PHIL 2011. The authorities involved are ordinary human beings. 2. Knowledge derived from could be confirmed or disproved by another person 3. The claims can be rejected if weighty enough reasoning.1. legal authority2. Expert authority3.. religious authority(pgs. 21-22)- Describe the relationship between Christian theology and philosophical investigation (noting the important distinctions).Theology - a discipline that begins by accepting truths of revelation and proceed to interpret these and to develop them into a systematic view of things. (pg. 23-24)Philosophy - Concerned not with the validation of these truths through divine revelation, but with what can be said about them on the basis or ordinary human methods of inquiry and understanding. (pg. 24)- What is the function of a metaphysical theory?They serve to unify areas of our experience and make them understandable to us. (pg. 25-26)- Explain 3 ways we can evaluate metaphysical theories.1. Factual adequacy - Must be in agreement with the facts about the subject matter.2. Logical consistency - inconsistencies can be subtle, criterion is important in evaluating3. Explanatory power - insight, enlightenment, the subjective accompaniment of understanding the theory. Should unify the data, identify the cause, comprehensivenessand simplicity(pg. 26-28)TermsMake sure you can explain the following terms and concepts:- PropertyAn attribute or quality a thing is said to possess (colors, textures, sizes, shapes, #'s)Acts like an "adjective" (Slide)- Accidental PropertyProperties which a particular thing may or may not possess; they are not essential to what the thing is. Ex: color, height, weight, personality (Slide)- Essential PropertyProperties which a particular thing must possess; they are necessary to what the - Basic ConstituentFind the ultimate reals - breaking things down into their basic constituents (pg. 15)- WholismThe theory that claims that wholes, complex entities, typically have a reality of their own over and above that of their constituents. Analysis of a whole into its parts always falsifies its nature by failing to capture this "something more". The only ultimately correct answer to the question, "What is there", would be "everything". (pg. 15 )- Metaphysical DataFundamental assumptions that we seem to Page 3 of 4PHIL 201thing is.Ex: rational (reason), emotional (respond to life), and willful capacities (make decisions). (Slide)- SubstanceThat, which has its being in itself and not in another, such as a particular thing.Ex: table, tree, hand, God, people, Acts likea "noun" (Slide)- Universal Properties that can be in more than one thing at a time (the color