Is Metaphysics Possible?
What Is Metaphysics? Metaphysics Versus Essentialism A Challenge for Metaphysics Chapter 1: Is Metaphysics Possible? What Is Metaphysics? Who has not wondered why we exist and where we fit into the whole of what there is? Indeed, why does anything at all exist, why not rather nothing? Is there some real or ultimate nature of things, some hidden essence, in light of which we should lead our lives? Is there some permanent reality behind the changing appearances of things? Some cosmic design that tells us who we are and what to do? Or did the universe just “happen,” having no meaning save what we supply from within ourselves? These are a few of the questions metaphysicians traditionally try to answer. We shall be looking at some of their attempts in the chapters ahead. The world’s great religions also offer answers to questions like these, by appealing to their founding prophets, to revelation, scripture, mystical insight. The sciences, by contrast, are supposed to make no value judgments
