Metaphysics Vocabulary: Unit 3

Metaphysics

branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, existence, and the universe. Addresses questions on what is fundamentally real, exploring concepts such as time, space, and causation.

Being

refers to the fundamental nature of existence and encompasses all entities that exist. It is a central concept in metaphysics that raises questions about what it means to be and the different modes of being.

Existence

is a core metaphysical concept that questions what it means for something to exist. Different perspectives on existence include materialism and existentialism.

Reality

encompasses all that is real, including both the physical and abstract. It raises questions about the nature of truths and whether reality is objective or subjective, a topic of significant debate within metaphysics.

Nature of objects

involves examining what constitutes an object, including its properties, relations, and identity. This concept addresses questions of how objects persist through change and what it means for them to be distinct from one another.

Realism

posits that reality exists independently of our perceptions or beliefs. It holds that the external world is objective and that objects exist whether or not they are observed. This viewpoint supports the notion that scientific inquiry can reveal truths about the world, strengthening the argument for an objective reality.

Anti-realism

which suggests that reality is dependent on our thoughts and language

Idealism

argues that reality is fundamentally mental or immaterial, suggesting that objects do not exist independently of our perceptions. This perspective emphasizes the role of the mind in shaping reality and often leads to skepticism about the external world, posing challenges for metaphysical inquiry regarding the nature of existence.

Causality

is a fundamental concept in metaphysics that examines the relationship between causes and their effects, shaping our understanding of reality.

Dualism

the presumption that mind and body are two distinct entities that interact.

Materialism

suggests that mental states are reducible to physical processes.

immaterialism

the doctrine that there is no material substance; it is spirits, mind, or numbers

Behaviorism

the view that mental states are simply sets of observable behaviors or dispositions to behave.

Pluralism

a broad doctrine that asserts the existence of multiple, irreducible things, contrasting with monism.

Monism

the doctrine that reality consists of a single basic substance or element. The view that only one fundamental reality exists

Cosmology

the understanding of the nature of the universe

Cosmogony

the branch of astrophysics that studies the origin and evolution and structure of the universe

Thales

philosopher that believed world rested on water, didn't blame gods for happenings, wanted to understand order of nature.

Anaximander

Student of Thales who believed the universal substance to be infinity (Apeiron or boundless) rather than something resembling ordinary objects

Anaximenes

Associate of Anaximander, he believed all things were made of air; this was the first concept of atoms.

Heraclitus

philosopher who said that fire is the origin of all things and that permanence is an illusion as all things are in perpetual flux (constant change and flow)

Parmenides

Believed that the world was a single unchanging, unmoving object whose order could be known through human reason

Empedocles

taught the concept of the four elements:fire,water, air, earth, (pluralism)

Anaxagoras

Agrees with Empedocles but adds in theory of reductionism

reductionism

The scientific strategy of breaking a system down into increasingly smaller parts in order to understand it.