Philosophy Department

Metaphysics
(PHLU 3355)

William Jaworski

Metaphysics is one of the "hottest" areas in contemporary philosophy; the topics it considers are nevertheless some of the oldest that have challenged philosophers, and some of the most difficult. This course introduces students to some of the major metaphysical questions, puzzles and problems that have exercised and continue to exercise the brightest philosophical minds. Topics will include several of the following: free will and determinism, the puzzles of material constitution, persistence through time, the prospects of immortality, realism vs. anti-realism, the existence of God, necessity and identity, possible worlds, universals and particulars, and the natures of existence, change, substance, causation, propositions, states of affairs and events.  The study of metaphysics is foundational for just about every other area of philosophy.               

Willard Van Orman Quine
Harvard Metaphysician