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 universal2. Properties are immutable 3. Properties are eternal4. Properties inhere in things- Know the 4 characteristics of substances.1. Substances are particular things-can only be in one place at a time2. Substances can change and are not necessarily eternal3. Substances are fundamental existants- do not inhere in things4. Substances have causable powers-they can cause things- Know the different kinds of properties and substances.- Two types of properties:1. Accidental properties- properties which a particular thing may or may not posses; they are not essential to what the thing is. (color, weight, personality)2. Essential properties- properties which a particular thing must posses; they are necessary to what the thing is. (all humans are rational, emotional, and willful capacities)- Two types of substances:1. Material substances- substances are out of matter, (natural kinds- occur naturally. Artificial kinds- man made things)2. Immaterial substances- substances not made from matter (God, angels, mind)- Know the difference between property, substance, and essence.1. Property: Characteristic or feature attributed to an object2. Substance: I. a fundamental or characteristic quality or "particular things of a certain kind". Identify a person based on particular things about themII. physical matter or what something is really made of3. Essence: the most basic and necessary property that make something to be that something- Know three different views of essence. Page 1 of 3PHIL 201Read 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.- What is the meaning of ultimately real? Basic constituants of reality. We are familiar withthe idea that things can be broken down into their constituants- Why is “man’s place in the real” significant?- Know the method for doing metaphysics and the 2 rules of thumb.1. we may take as premises for a metaphysical argument anything we know or havegood reason to believe to be true2. No belief, no matter how firmly held, or apparently well supported is beyond the possibility of challenge or question.- Identify the 3 kinds of beliefs we may take as our staring point in metaphysical investigation.1. Good reasons2. Good reasons to believe3. Reasoning based on other things we know to be true- Explain the role of authority in metaphysical investigation including the different types ofauthorities.1. Legal authority: all situations in which some person or group of persons has the right simply to decide something which henceforth is so just because it has been decided that way.2. Expert authority: in which certain persons are relied on for information because of special experinces or expertise3. Religious authority: in which truths are proclaimed by God or by someone authorized to speak on behalf of God- Describe the relationship between Christian theology and philosophical investigation (noting the important distinctions).1. Distinction between the content of one’s beliefs and the reasons for that belief between what is believed and why it is believed.2. Distinction between one’s final overall conclusion about the way things are and what can be ascertaind thru the methodology of a particular discipline.- What is the function of a metaphysical theory? Functions similar to scientific theory they serive to unify areas of our experiences and make them understandable to us.- Explain 3 ways we can evaluate metaphysical theories.1. Predictable and testable2. Logically consistent 3. Explanatory powerPage 2 of 3PHIL 201TermsMake sure you can explain the following terms and concepts:- Property- a characteristic of an object- Accidental Property- properties which a particular thing may or may not posses; they are not essential to what the thing is- Essential Property- properties which a particular thing must posses; they are necessary to what the thing is- Substance- see above- Universal- repeatable or recurrent entities that can be instantiated or exemplified by many particular things.- Particular- Essence- the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. - Metaphysical Realism- the view that most of the objects that populate the world exist independently of our thought and have their natures independently of how, if at all, we conceive of them- Nominalism- a philosophical view which denies the existence of universals and abstract objects, but affirms the existence of general or abstract terms and predicates- Conceptualism- Basic Constituent- Wholism- Metaphysical Data- Legal Authority- Expert Authority- Religious Authority- Factual Adequacy- Logical Consistency- Explanatory PowerPage 3 of