METAPHYSICS
This SDG is designed for thoughtful enthusiasts who want to research and debate some of the most fundamental questions in philosophy. We will look together at the concepts that underpin our most basic ideas of what exists. These include what makes a thing a thing, matter, time and space, language, personal identity, and existence. There is a long philosophical tradition behind many of these ideas, going back to Parmenides, Plato and Aristotle, alongside more modern writers such as Descartes, Hume, Kant and Wittgenstein.
Don’t let this program intimidate you. You do not require any background in philosophy, just an openness of mind and a willing curiosity to engage with these ideas.
Our central text is Metaphysics by Stephen Mumford, now Professor of Philosophy at Durham University in the UK. It is one of the Oxford Very Short Introductions, published in 2012, ISBN 978-0199657124. It is relatively short and clearly written, despite the complexity of the ideas involved. It is also available on Kindle and this is fine to use as the few photos it contains are not central to any of the arguments. Mumford has written other philosophy books including one on football (ie soccer).
We will take each chapter week by week, and the final week will let us discuss any matters we have not dealt with satisfactorily.
The SDG will meet in person at Gayley.
WEEK 1 What is a table?
WEEK 2 What is a circle?
WEEK 3 Are wholes just sums of parts?
WEEK 4 What is a change?
WEEK 5 What is a cause?
WEEK 6 How does time pass?
WEEK 7 What is a person?
WEEK 8 What is possible?
WEEK 9 Is nothing something?
WEEK 10 What is metaphysics?
WEEK 11 Matters arising tbc
Metaphysics by Stephen Mumford, now Professor of Philosophy at Durham University in the UK. It is one of the Oxford Very Short Introductions, published in 2012, ISBN 978-0199657124. It is also available on Kindle.