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Metaphysics

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Brief Description
This book is an introduction to metaphysics. It presupposes no previous acquaintance with philosophy and addresses the following questions: What is metaphysics? Is there a plurality of things, or is there only one thing? Is there an external world, a world of things that exist independently... Read More
Format: Hardback
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This book is an introduction to metaphysics and it presupposes no previous acquaintance with philosophy. Updates include extensive rewriting of the chapter on time, enhanced clarity throughout the text, updated notes and suggested reading throughout.

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

This book is an introduction to metaphysics. It presupposes no previous acquaintance with philosophy and addresses the following questions: What is metaphysics? Is there a plurality of things, or is there only one thing? Is there an external world, a world of things that exist independently of human thought and sensation? What is time? Is there such a thing as objective truth? Why is there something rather than nothing? Does our existence have a meaning? Are we physical or non-physical beings? Do we have free will? Are there things that do not exist? Do universals exist?

This Fifth Edition differs from the Fourth in that the long, previously difficult chapter on time has been extensively rewritten, making it much more accessible and engaging for the student reader. In addition, the author has enhanced clarity throughout the text with improvements to word choice, sentence structure, and paragraph lucidity. Finally, the Notes and Suggestions for Further Reading at the end of each chapter and the General Bibliography have all been brought up to date.

Key Features:

  • Presupposes no prior acquaintance with philosophy, making the book ideal for the undergraduate student or interested general reader.
  • Offers 13 chapters, organised into three parts, each with its own introduction:
    • The Way the World Is
    • Why the World Is
    • The Inhabitants of the World
  • Incorporates extensive revisions to Chapter 4 on temporality.
  • Includes updates to the Chapter Notes and Suggestions for Further Reading as well as to the General Bibliography.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781032409160

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 22 January 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Routledge

Edition: 5th edition

Illustration: 2 Line drawings, black and white; 2 Illustrations, black and white

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 770g

Pages: 322

About the Author

Peter van Inwagen is the John Cardinal O’Hara Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame and research professor of Philosophy at Duke University. He is the author of An Essay on Free Will (1983), Material Beings (1990), Being: A Study in Ontology (2022), and seven other books. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Gifford Lecturer, and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews.

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