PHILO 142:  METAPHYSICS

 

INTODUCTION:

 

The history of philosophy tells us about the rise and fall of metaphysics. To date, metaphysics is again facing new challenges. Plurality rather than unity, change rather than sameness mark the consciousness of our postmodern time. Becoming rather than permanence is paramount. There is a notable emphasis on appearances or the phenomenon rather than the reality beneath. This renders the failure to penetrate the depths of that, which is.

 

The positivistic view of language, which operates on the principle of verifiability, has dominated the scientific disciplines.[1] This makes metaphysical discourse captive of such positivistic view of language. Metaphysics, perceived as meta-narrative, turns out to be useless and even oppressive.

 

To some, metaphysics has become an opium, because it diverts the human intelligence from the relevant human problems. It has become "useless to pursue, and ultimately dead as a cultural presence."[2] Such was the pronouncements that come out of Paris by the French deconstruction.[3]

 

We cannot deny some value of these changes and the plurality of the phenomena that have preoccupied scientific research. However, there is still the need to continually penetrate and dig into the profundity and immense richness of the “there is” (il y a), the indeterminate unity of being. There is still validity in our attempt to answer the question of ultimacy in human existence. We still have to deal with the ultimate underlying principles. And this is, in the main, the task of metaphysics – to unveil the implicit to explicit.

 

As we proceed with the course, we will not be answering all the questions being raised against metaphysics. But we will certainly consider them as our point of departure in our conversations regarding this course, Metaphysics.