Categorial Description

Abstract

Metaphysics is one branch of Philosophy, but arguably more fundamental than other branches such as Epistemology (the Theory of Knowledge), Philosophy of Mind or Moral Philosophy. Sometimes it has received disparaging attacks as a noncognitive and hence nonsensical enterprise, a fate suffered notoriously during the present century at the hands of the philosophical movement known as ‘logical empiricism’. Whether any such charge against it is just and fair depends however on quite what metaphysicians are up to, and it must be admitted that many such philosophers have had greater ambitions for their subject than seem in retrospect to be prudent. To reveal the true nature of reality, its contents and structure, to place man within the cosmos in his relation to other kinds of things and to his creator, to determine man’s duty to himself and to God, and the true route to happiness — those are common enough ambitions, exhibited in the works of Plato, Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza, Bradley and so on. No wonder its advocates have exalted the metaphysical pursuit!