DAY 7 (Feb 11) Metaphysics? Reality? Really?

Why Metaphysics?
Socrates (469 - 399 BCE) would answer, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Each day you are inundated with information - conversations, signs, television shows, Internet blogs, dreams and more. How often do you actually contemplate this information with the intensity of Rodin's famous statue?

Probably not all that often. But then, with all of the day-to-day demands, who has the time? Indeed, all of this information is sort of like eating nothing but fast food; you may feel full but are you really satisfied?

Philosophy (which translates to "love of wisdom") is about taking time to consider, critique and reflect on the big questions. These answers do not come easily, nor are there many absolute answers. However, for many philosophers, the journey is more important than the destination.

So grab a comfy chair and let's take that first step!

Metaphysics asks these questions . . . . your answers are in purple below each question...

• What is real?

Nothing
Tangible things
Dreams?
Consciousness?

• What is our place in the universe (if, indeed, there is one)?

Here

• What are things really made of?

Mostly nothingness (and of course tiny particles of different kinds of energy)

• Do we have free will?

Probably, with exceptions.

• Who are you?  (i.e. Who Am I?)

Your DNA
Experiences
Prior knowledge
Memories
Product of your environment
Opinions
Beliefs
Religion
Body
Abilities
Self-perception
Interests
How you process information
Values
Morals
Everything
Intelligence (multiple facets)

• Does God exist?

Some say yes.
Some say no.

• Does any of this matter?

Still wondering.
Yes.
No.
Some of it does.

• Why?  Why not?

???

• What is the meaning of life?

It Depends on you.

So what is Metaphysics? Well, imagine you and your friends are driving in a car for a good old-fashioned road trip. One of your friends might ask, "Where are we going?", while another wonders, "When will we get there?", while yet another cries out, "Who are we meeting later?"

These are important questions, especially for the driver. But imagine your friends' reactions when you suddenly state, "Is this a dream?"

Assuming they didn't turn the car around, your friends' answers would be metaphysical.  That is because Metaphysics asks the really big questions.

As you can see, Metaphysics seeks answer to the same question satirical novelist Douglas Adams answered: what is the answer to life, the universe and everything? However, unlike Adams' tongue-in-cheek answer of

(Adams called this the answer to life, the universe and everything) but few of you new philosophers would agree with him.