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What is Metaphysics?

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In What is Metaphysics?, John Heil delves into the foundational questions of existence, reality, and the nature of the universe. He explores how metaphysical inquiries intersect with psychology and philosophy, providing readers with a deeper understanding of abstract concepts and the principles underlying everything that exists. The book offers a comprehensive overview, making complex ideas accessible and engaging.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by deep philosophical questions about the nature of reality, existence, and the fundamental components of the world. It offers a comprehensive exploration of metaphysical concepts, making it an intriguing choice for readers interested in understanding the underlying principles that shape our perception of the universe.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

"Metaphysics can be understood as the branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality. In this textbook for students new to the topic, John Heil covers the key concepts in an original, jargon-free way"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

If we didn't possess certain beliefs about such things as time, appearance and reality, and how effect follows cause, we wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning, let alone read a book about metaphysics, which is the study of our experience and those ideas, or presuppositions, which allow us to make sense of it.

Drawing on examples from art, science, and daily life, John Heil shows how metaphysics begins in questioning our everyday assumptions about how the world β€œworks” and ends with speculation on the nature of the universe itself. In chapters that cover the major topics in the academic study of metaphysics, from free will and consciousness to time and objectivity, Heil explains how metaphysical questions underpin everything human beings do.

This accessible book will show you how professional philosophers try to categorise and make sense of our world of perception and experience and explains why everyone should take metaphysics seriously.

Series: What is Philosophy?

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  • What is Epistemology?
    Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge. Epistemologists seek to understand knowledge’s nature and availability. What is knowledge? There are competing theories. Can we really have knowledge? Challenges abound. In this lively book, Stephen Hetherington introduces us to epistemological theorizing. He builds a theory and tests it, refines it, and challenges it again. He explores such topics as evidence, truth...
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  • What is Metaphysics?
    If we didn't possess certain beliefs about such things as time, appearance and reality, and how effect follows cause, we wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning, let alone read a book about metaphysics, which is the study of our experience and those ideas, or presuppositions, which allow us to make sense of it. Drawing on...
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  • What is Philosophy of Mind?
    We all have minds, but what exactly is a mind? Is your mind the same thing as your brain? How does what’s happening in your mind cause your behaviour? Can you know what’s going on in other people’s minds? Can you even be sure what’s going on in your own? Are babies conscious? How about cats? Or self-driving cars? Philosophy...
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  • What is Ethics?
    Ethics is a field of study that we all need. This is because we all make choices, and ethics is about the general norms that govern how we should make those choices. Not surprisingly, there is disagreement over what the β€œnorms” are, but by working through such disagreement, we can learn how to make better choices. James P. Sterba presents...
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  • What is Philosophy of Religion?
    An important part of philosophy is concerned with religious questions. What is the meaning of life, and how might religious faith or doubt impact such meaning? What is the evidence for the existence of God? Is evidence essential for religious faith? What is the relationship between science and religion? What is the relationship between religions? How can or should one...
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  • What is Philosophy of Science?
    Philosophy of science puts science itself under the microscope: What exactly is science? How do its explanations of the world differ from those of other subjects, including so-called "pseudo-sciences"? How should we understand and evaluate scientific methods? What, if anything, can science tell us about the nature of physical reality? Dean Rickles guides beginners through the central topics in philosophy...
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  • What is Philosophy of Language?
    Language is a major part of what makes us human. We effortlessly attach meaning to sounds and marks, in themselves meaningless, to convey to one another our beliefs, desires, intentions, and other states of mind. How is this amazing feat possible? Claudine Verheggen introduces readers to the fascinating study of language from a philosophical perspective. She sheds light on the...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

What is Metaphysics? by John Heil is lauded as an engaging introduction to the often misunderstood field of metaphysics. Kristie Miller from the University of Sydney appreciates the book for its accessibility and ability to address fundamental questions such as the nature of time and causation. Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra from the University of Oxford praises it for highlighting the inevitability of metaphysical inquiry and encouraging reflective thinking on key topics.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509546497

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 September 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 249g

Pages: 176

About the Author

John HeilΒ is Professor of Philosophy at Washington University in St Louis, Professor of Philosophy at Durham University, and an Honorary Research Associate at Monash University. Professor Heil is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and is listed among the 50 Most Influential Living Philosophers.

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