Metaphysics

Metaphysics

the study of fundamental nature of reality itself
1. nature (traditional): what something is independent of its relations
  1. usually is not physically observable with our senses
Empiricism
1. matter, subatomic structure
2. physicalism: in order for something to be real, it must be explainable in physical terms
Consciousness (nagel)
1. Cit. is not explainable by physicalist solutions
  1. 2 common physicalist solutions
    1. Reducing cit. to an underlying physical state/thing
      1. Denying the reality/existence of cit.
2. definition: there is something that it is like to be that organism
  1. SUBJECTIVITY: a frame of reference that is entirely dependent on a 1st person perspective (por-soi: cit.)
    1. cit. isn't observable. can only be observable from 1st person POV
    2. phenomenological features (facts)
      1. the subjectively experienced facts of our experience that depend on our 1st person POV
  2. OBJECTIVITY: frame of reference independent from 1st person perspectives (en-soi: 3rd person omniscient POV)
    1. how things are in their nature apart from subjectivity
      1. realities that are subjectively experienced but observable by many POVs
3. mind-body problem(problem of cit.)
  1. 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
    1. Scientism: the view that all forms of knowledge are reducible to the scientific form of knowledge (epistemological worldview)
4. 2 types of differences
  1. EPISTEMIC DIFFERENCE: there is a gap that exists between truths related to 2 different things
    1. there is an apparent difference between what appears to be 2 different things
  2. ONTOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE: there is a real categorical difference between 2 things
5. 4 physicalist responses
  1. 1.Deny that cit. is an irreducible part of reality
    1. a) holding that cit. is identifiable; some aspect of reality
      1. b) deny that cit. is a part of reality; cit. is an illusion
  2. 2. Deny that cit. needs a scientific explanation
    1. c) cit. is a fluke/accident; cit. is not casually relevant (epiphenomenalism)
      1. d) cit. has an explanation, but one outside of science
Reductionism
1. the process by which we take something that is incomprehensible to us and "reduce" it into terms/factors into terms familiar to us
Difference between facts and conceptual schema
1. Facts
  1. OBJECTIVE: facts that are accessible from multiple POVs and thus is independent of localized perspective
    1. 1. how things are really in their nature
      1. 2. facts/data that can be agreed upon from many observers
  2. SUBJECTIVE (phenomenological): "truths" that can only emerge within a 1st person/ lived POV
    1. subjective facts/truths are embodied
2. Conceptual schemas
  1. a theoretical or abstract framework by which we categorize obj. and sub. facts
Appearance vs. Reality
1. analogue of the subject-object dichotomy
2. APPEARANCE
  1. observable, detailed, changeable, visible, tangible, SUBJECTIVE
3. REALITY
  1. nature, lack of relations, imperceptible, non-sensory, invisible, general, OBJECTIVE

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