Metaphysics

Metaphysics

1. the study of fundamental nature of reality itself

   • nature (traditional): what something is independent of its relations
     • usually is not physically observable with our senses

2. Empiricism

   • matter, subatomic structure
   • physicalism: in order for something to be real, it must be explainable in physical terms

3. Consciousness (nagel)

   • Cit. is not explainable by physicalist solutions
     • 2 common physicalist solutions
       • Reducing cit. to an underlying physical state/thing
         • Denying the reality/existence of cit.
   • definition: there is something that it is like to be that organism
     • SUBJECTIVITY: a frame of reference that is entirely dependent on a 1st person perspective (por-soi: cit.)
       • cit. isn't observable. can only be observable from 1st person POV
       • phenomenological features (facts)
         • the subjectively experienced facts of our experience that depend on our 1st person POV
     • OBJECTIVITY: frame of reference independent from 1st person perspectives (en-soi: 3rd person omniscient POV)
       • how things are in their nature apart from subjectivity
         • realities that are subjectively experienced but observable by many POVs
   • mind-body problem(problem of cit.)
     • given that cit. does not seem to be a physical thing, how is it that we can incorporate/"fit" cit. into our existing scientific worldview
       • Scientism: the view that all forms of knowledge are reducible to the scientific form of knowledge (epistemological worldview)
   • 2 types of differences
     • EPISTEMIC DIFFERENCE: there is a gap that exists between truths related to 2 different things
       • there is an apparent difference between what appears to be 2 different things
     • ONTOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE: there is a real categorical difference between 2 things
   • 4 physicalist responses
     • 1.Deny that cit. is an irreducible part of reality
       • a) holding that cit. is identifiable; some aspect of reality
         • b) deny that cit. is a part of reality; cit. is an illusion
     • 2. Deny that cit. needs a scientific explanation
       • c) cit. is a fluke/accident; cit. is not casually relevant (epiphenomenalism)
         • d) cit. has an explanation, but one outside of science

4. Reductionism

   • the process by which we take something that is incomprehensible to us and "reduce" it into terms/factors into terms familiar to us

5. Difference between facts and conceptual schema

   • Facts
     • OBJECTIVE: facts that are accessible from multiple POVs and thus is independent of localized perspective
       • 1. how things are really in their nature
         • 2. facts/data that can be agreed upon from many observers
     • SUBJECTIVE (phenomenological): "truths" that can only emerge within a 1st person/ lived POV
       • subjective facts/truths are embodied
   • Conceptual schemas
     • a theoretical or abstract framework by which we categorize obj. and sub. facts

6. Appearance vs. Reality

   • analogue of the subject-object dichotomy
   • APPEARANCE
     • observable, detailed, changeable, visible, tangible, SUBJECTIVE
   • REALITY
     • nature, lack of relations, imperceptible, non-sensory, invisible, general, OBJECTIVE