Metaphysics in a Nutshell ("nutshell" in this context means, "...what we can fit into an hour of typing/writing heehee).
Reality Theories
Idealism - Berkeley, Plato. Reality consists of ideas (of perfection?) and the minds that house these ideas.
Realism - Plato. Reality consists of ideas of perfection that do not change with time, but are always more perfect that the reality of the world and what you can encounter in the material world.
Materialism - Ancient Greeks, Hobbes. Everything is physical and reality is matter. Even consciousness is a by-product of the physical brain.
Monoism - Spinoza. Reality is one all-encompassing thing and all things are just expressions of the one reality. The one thing can be an idea, a thing, or a god.
Dualism - Descartes. Reality is two distinct things: mind, matter. Nothing in common but they do interact.
Determinism - Every event, including one's own actions, is determined by a chain of events going back in time.
Ontology - simply the study of the nature of being and of reality.
Substance - something that has an independent existence.
Personhood
John Locke - thinking, intelligent being, with reason and reflection, that can consider itself as itself. This ALLOWS for non-human entities to be considered persons.
Dan Dennett - rationality, conscious mental states and intentionality, thought to be persons by other people, the person must consider that other persons are persons, complex verbal communication, self-consciousness. This ALLOWS some non-human entitles to be considered persons.
Mary Ann Warren - chiefly from point of view of abortion, or beginning of life. Consciousness of objects, ability to feel pain, reasoning and problem-solving abilities, self-motivated actions, complex ways of communications (not just verbal), concepts of "self" and "self-awareness". She says that a person does NOT have to satisfy all of these criteria, only some of them.
Annette Baier - basically a response to all of these definitions. Persons tests are too narrow. Too much emphasis on cognitive powers (e.g. rationality) than to learning interpersonal skills and social roles.
All of this begs some questions: e.g. are a week-old baby and an Alzheimer's patient not to be considered persons? Do we exclude developmentally challenged people and those with severe brain damage? When does a person begin and end?
Self
Bundle Theory - Hume. Imagine a bag full of stuff (a bundle), and every item in it represents one of your experiences. The Self is a collection of bits and pieces of experiences in the past. This does not really account for someone's future which is in large part determined by someone's past.
Project Theory - Sartre. Imagine the building of a bridge, the planning, building, maintenance, repairing, etc., this is a never-ending project, just like you! Always evolving, connected with the future, conscious, with a conscience, with morals, with a soul.
Narrative Theory - Ricoeur. Imagine that you are a book and you are constantly writing it. Your pen is your set of experiences. Both past and present make you you. Your story is interwoven with others' stories too. Your own narrative does not end - it continues in other people's narratives.
Substance Theory - Descartes. Imagine that you are a boat (S.S. You), the wind = experiences, although the wind may change your direction, you the boat does not change. This is opposite the Bundle Theory, there is a mental substance (not derived from the material), and experiences do not change self.
Supreme Being
Theism - (based on Greek word, theos = God). Belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing supreme being worthy of worship. Belief is that it was present at creation and can intervene.
Deism - (based on the Latin word, deo = God). A belief in a supreme being as above, but that the supreme being does NOT intervene in life.
Polytheism - belief in the work of many gods, each with a particular role in the universe. Hinduism.
Monotheism - belief in one supreme, perfect, all powerful maker. The main monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) maintain that the God is an entity with human characteristics (not a human) who has a mind, a will and an ability to communicate.
Pantheism - belief that the supreme being is everywhere. That everything contains the spirit of this entity. Aboriginal Spirituality, many other religions, somewhat a Christian ideal.
Panentheism - belief that the supreme being is everything. That it is the totality of all existence. That there is nothing outside of God (but God is not a person).
Meaning of Life?
Nihilists - life has no meaning. No work of art, scientific advancement, etc. is important because the universe will end in the future (e.g. the sun will burn us up in around 10b years.
Theists - because the supreme being has given us life it thus has meaning and purpose. The meaning is there and it's up to us to discover that meaning, that it's part of His/Her plan. Because the supreme being has given us life, life has meaning.
What gives meaning to your life?
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