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.”1. Know the 4 characteristics of properties. 1. Universal- they can be more than one thing at a time2. Immutable & Eternal- they do not change over time3. Inhere in things- in order for a property to exist, there has to be something that has it 4. Do not have casual powers- can't cause things to occur2. Know the 4 characteristics of substances.1. They are particular things- can only be in one place at one time2. Can change and are not necessarily eternal3. Are fundamental existents- they have being in themselves, do not inhere in other things4. They have casual powers- can cause events or things to occur3. Know the different kinds of properties and substances. Properties: 1. Accidental- a thing which a property may or may not possess, but not be essential to what the thing is 2. Essential- properties which a particular thing must possess in order to be that particulartype of thingSubstances: 1. Material- 2 types of material substances: natural (naturally occuring in nature) and artifacts (man-made) 2. Immaterial- substances that are not made from matter but are still substances. (i.e. God)4. Know the difference between property, substance, and essence. 1. essence- it's the sum of the essential properties of a thing that makes it what it is. It is the "what-ness" of something2. property- is an attribute or a quality a thing is said to possess.3. substance- that which has its being in itself and not in another, such as a particular thing.5. Know three different view of essence. 1. Metaphysical realism- view that natures or essences possess objective reality. They really exist, and actually, they really exist in things themselves.Page 1 of 5PHIL 2012. Nominalism- basically says that natures or essences don't really exist.3. Conceputalism- tries to find middle ground between these two. The metaphysical realist says, essences really exist inside of things, there's an actual metaphysical entity that exists there; and the nominalist says they don't exist at all, they're just names. The conceptualist wants to come along and find some place in the middle. He wants tosay, well they do exist but they don't exist as objective things out there in reality, something that is actually possessed like a human being has a human nature.Read Chapter 1 of Metaphysics: Constructing a World View, “Introducing Metaphysics.” As you do, make sure you understand the following points and questions:1. Explain the 3 metaphysical questions. 1. What is real? 2. What is ultimately real? 3. What is man's place in what is real?2. 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 thing of them3. Why is “man’s place in the real” significant? We are the ones studying philosophy, humans highest, most complex and elaborate products of nature, or else the visible link between nature and something beyond nature.4. Know the method for doing metaphysics and the 2 rules of thumb. Two rules of thumb: 1. We may take as premises for a metaphysical argument anything we know, or have good reason to believe, to be true. 2. No belief, no matter how firmly held or apparently well supported, is beyond the possibility of challenge or questioning. Method: to begin with something absolutely fundamental, in philosophy we are seeking to have good reasons for the assertions we make. Stick to the good reasons to believe. We can prove something to be true if we can show its truth by reasoning based on other things we know to be true. Proof is a special kind of argument, a process of reasoning whereby, on the basis of a statement assumed to be true (the premise) we are able to justify some new statement (the conclusion).5. Identify the 3 kinds of beliefs we may take as our staring point in metaphysical investigation.1. Perceptual- beliefs that are justified through seeing (including historical and scientific)2. Logic- "no statement can be both true and false" and mathematics, justified by some sort of rational insight and/or understanding 3. Metaphysical data- fundamental assumptions that we seem to bring experience rather than derive from it, and which we seem firmly to believe in without being able to prove. Not immune to challenge.6. Explain the role of authority in metaphysical investigation including the different types ofauthorities. Nothing is accepted merely on authority, no matter how reputable; and no assertion, however outrageous, is ruled out of court if it can be supported with good reasons. Page 2 of 5PHIL 2011. Legal authority- any situation where someone has the right to decide. has no place at all in metaphysics, nor science or mathematics. 2. Expert authority- certain persons are relied on for information because of special experiences or expertise. In metaphysics 1. authorities involved are ordinary humans exercising ordinary human capacities and methods of gaining knowledge, 2. knowledge derived from the authority is knowledge which could be checked and confirmed and 3. claims made by authority can in the end still be rejected if we have enough reasons for doing so. It is authoritative, but not absolute. Does not introduce into metaphysics any objectionable dogmatism or authoritarianism. 3. Religious authority- truths are proclaimed by God or by someone authorized to speak on behalf of God. Cannot be accepted as a basis for philosophical assertions.7. Describe the relationship between Christian theology and philosophical investigation (noting the important distinctions). Early on Christian theology has made extensive use of philosophy, in developing and interpreting the Christian revelation; the influence of philosophy on theology has become so pervasive that even theologians who consciously reject philosophy cannot escape