Essay on Metaphysics

Metaphysics Term Papers

While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject (metaphysics)
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!

Metaphysics

“All men by nature desire to know”(p.51). So does Aristotle begin The

Metaphysics, a book, or rather a collection of lectures. It is the book of the

greatest importance for an understanding of the philosophy of Aristotle, and has

had a tremendous influence on the European thought. The word Metaphysics

derives from the Greek meta ta physika (“after the things of nature”). In medieval

and modern philosophy metaphysics has also been taken to mean the study of

things transcending nature. “That is, existing separately from nature and having

more intrinsic reality and value than the things of nature- giving meta a

philosophical meaning that it did not posses during the period of Classical

Greece”(p.153). This simply means that in ancient times the word metaphysics

only meant “after physics”, but as time went on it took on a philosophical

meaning-- things that go beyond mere physical attributes. The term has had a

religious and a spiritual connotation and refers generally to the field of philosophy

dealing with various things and their state of being. Metaphysic is thus, according

to Aristotle “ Wisdom par excellence” and the philosopher or lover of wisdom is

he who desires knowledge about the cause and nature of Reality. Thusly wisdom

deals with the principles and causes of things, that means it is an abstract science,

not dealing with the senses. “ Sense perception is common to all and therefore

easy and no mark on Wisdom” (p.169). But, though it is the most abstracted of

sciences, it is according to Aristotle the most exact of the sciences. Therefore

metaphysics deals with knowledge at the highest level of abstraction. It is the

study of the most basic element of motion. It is willing to look at the existence of

ourselves with a questioning eye. To Aristotle metaphysics was the study of

Being and its principles and causes.

There were a few people in the classical period that contributed to the

development metaphysics, among them were Parmenides, Plato and of course the

father of metaphysics, Aristotle. The history of metaphysics goes far back to the

sixth century BC. It starts with the Ionic cosmologists wondering about the

physical universe, the matter and substance of its make up, and the laws present in

nature. We first must begin with Promenades, since most of the concepts seen in

Aristotle’s writing are plainly visible in his writings. Parmenides believed that

there are principles, for example, noncontradiction and a principle of sufficient

reason, also, “what necessity impelled it, if it did spring from Nothing, to be

produced later or earlier? Thus it must be absolutely, or nothing at all” (p.169).

Philosophy, was therefore conceived as a deductive science like mathematics for

instance. It is also a contradictory contrast between apparent reality and true

reality. Like the natural scientist, the metaphysician gives an account of the

universe; unlike the scientist, he does not base his account on observations and

experiments. His account is based primarily on “analysis of concept; if he does

appeal to the evidence of the senses, he appeals to something that is familiar, not

to new evidence that he is adding to knowledge” (160). Parmenides believed that

typical characteristics of metaphysics were distinct philosophical inquiry. It is the

conception of philosophy which attempts to understand the universe by means of

logical investigation, appealing to meanings of terms rather those not base his

account on observations and experiments. It is the conception of philosophy

which attempts to understand the universe by means of logical investigation,

things we see and touch; moreover they are considered to be the source of

existence we see and touch, like “ a man is the cause of his shadow or of his

reflection in a mirror or in a pool of water”(p32).

One can discern metaphysics as an independent method in the works of Plato,

but should keep in mind that in early Greek thought “Wisdom” was an

observation of the true picture of cosmos. This is why philosophical method did

not differ from the scientific method. In a score of his dialogues, Plato gave a

description of the highest sort of knowledge, rising from empirical reality to the

nonmaterial ideas following the hierarchical latter of concepts, and descending

back to the world of the senses. Plato’s metaphysics means the theory of Ideas,

which are present on Pheado, and have had a lot of influence in history of thought.

Plato argues “for the existence of mind or soul as a kind of entity distinct from,

and in some sense prior to, physical objects” (34). This is evident in Pheado,

where the theory of Ideas can be used to prove the immortality of the soul. Plato

believed that bodies cannot move themselves whereas the soul can. Thales and

early Greek philosophers busied themselves with material cause, trying to

discover ultimate meaning of things, but others believed that there was more to

thought and life than material cause. Empedocles and Anaxagoras saw that no

material element can be the reason why objects manifest beauty and goodness, and

so came to the conclusion of the activity of the Mind.

In history of philosophy the term metaphysics was used as a synonym of

philosophy, and was introduced in the first century BC. by a man (Adronic of

Rodos) who systematized the works of Aristotle. Aristotle is the direct source of

what metaphysics is. He constructed a classification of the sciences in which the

first in meaning and value place was occupied by the science of “being” as such.

Unlike the “second philosophy” or physics the “first philosophy” ( called

consequently metaphysics) considers being independently from concrete unity of

matter and form. It is not connected with the subjectivity of man nor with human

activity. He raised questions, which in short were whether or not “metaphysics is

a superscience proving the assumptions made by the special sciences, and also the

assumptions it itself uses –whether, in short , it is logically self contained body of

knowledge contrasting with the logically incomplete special sciences” (p.155).

Aristotle thought that metaphysics is less the capstone of a hierarchy of

sciences, than a discussion of problems left over by the special sciences. He

believed metaphysics to be a science which explains things as they were already

known to be true, rather than as giving reasons for the assumptions we make in

sciences and everyday life, thereby supporting the meaning of science and

common sense. For Aristotle the most vital question of metaphysics was the

concepts of being and unity. Questions such as “Are being and unity properties of

things, or are they entities or substances of some kind?” “If being and unity are

things in their own right, what kind of things are they?” (152-153) These

questions are brought up in Plato’s Parmenides and Sophist. Metaphysics

according to Aristotle was the most valuable of sciences, existing no as a purpose

of human life and the source of enjoyment. Aristotle’s analysis of being is the

prime theme in metaphysics, it is his account...

You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 10 Feb, 2012 from
    <http://essaymania.com/75046/metaphysics>

More College Papers

Mass Media
American Mass Media and Popular Culture: How Does It Influence Us? Mass media is endangering our way of life and our lack of the ability to listen is only making it worse. The first selection is by Cynthia Crossen and she discusses the nationÂ’s lack of listening ability. In her article, she expla

Metamorphosis
Gregor's predicament is much like that of any person suffering from severe, particularly disfiguring, chronic illness or disability. Gregor's life story and personal identity change dramatically when he becomes a vermin. In the new identity his senses are different: the hospital across the street is

Metal Detectors In Schools
Imagine that your child attends a public school, as the majority of children in the nation do. One day, youÂ’re not feeling too well, so you decide to relax, take a sick day and stay home from work. YouÂ’re in front of the TV, watching some lousy daytime soap, when the local news station breaks throug