PHIL 220 - Metaphysics

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Metaphysics is the study of reality and existence in general. At the most abstract level, metaphysics asks: What exists? How many things exist? Are there different categories of existence, and, if so, how do they relate to one another? What is at stake when we ask such questions? How should we go about trying to settle them? We will also examine a number of more particular philosophical questions that fall within the scope of metaphysics. What is time? Does time pass? How do things persist through time? What sort of thing is a person? Is a person identical to their mind? Identical to their body? What is identity? What is a cause? Does everything have a cause? These questions may appear intractable, vague, even pretentious. Our goal in this course is to make them precise and clear, then to offer transparent, intuitive, and definite answers. We accomplish this by focusing on highly specific puzzles and scenarios, and learning the skills for assessing, and constructively responding to, debates in metaphysics. Matthew Moss.

Prerequisite(s): One 100-level course in Philosophy or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS