Reality Bites: Introduction to metaphysics from Coursera

Speculative metaphysics is challenging, but this course will whet your appetite for it, because it explains fundamental metaphysical problems and views in terms of what you can find in your kitchen and what happens in it when you cook and enjoy food. Here are the 8 bites on the menu.

- The first module 1 explains that metaphysics is about the ingredients and recipes of the world, i.e., which kinds of entities exist and how they relate to one another.

- Modules 2 and 3 invite you to reflect on whether the properties of ingredients -such as their shape and weight- are separate from and if so, how they come together in the ingredients.

- Modules 4 to 7 are about cooking: its most important ingredient is time and most cooking consists in causing changes to the ingredients over time. Yet some ingredients persist: although they undergo changes, they remain the same. Moreover, cooking minimally involves putting two or more ingredients together, so that they compose a whole. Hence modules 4 to 7 deal with time, causation, persistence and composition respectively.

- Finally, the last module touch on the smells, tastes and other qualitative aspects of our experiences when enjoying food.

Bon appétit!

What's inside

Syllabus

Metaphysics

The introductory module explains what this thing called metaphysics is and what's it all about, namely: metaphysics is about all and everything. Furthermore, week 1 introduces ontology as the core of metaphysics, and explains its most fundamental methodological principles, like parsimony, and methodological tools, like Quine's method to determine one's ontological commitments.

Universals

The second module deals with the most famous and infamous problem in the whole history of metaphysics, i.e., the problem of universals. Whereas objects or 'particulars' can only be in one place at the same time, properties seem to be present in many places at the same time. This raises the question whether properties are, in contrast to particulars, transcendent or immanent 'universals'. Alternatively, properties can be reduced to classes of particulars, resemblances between particulars, or 'tropes', i.e., abstract particulars.

Substance

In more than one way, the problem of substance is the converse of the problem of universals. If two objects share all their properties, what individuates them from each other? And how do objects bear their properties? Does it take properties to be able to bear properties? Or if that quicks off an infinite regress, are substances propertyless substrata, naked substrata? Or mere bundles of properties, whether universals or tropes? Or still, are substances thick or thin particulars?

Time

We all think that we know that time passes. But there are some interesting metaphysical problems with time and its alleged passage. Firstly, do only objects and persons that exist now, really exist? Or also past objects and persons? Or perhaps even future objects and persons? Furthermore, is time real? Because, as McTaggart argues, if change is fundamental to time, the ordering of events in terms of past, present and future is, on the one hand, fundamental, and on the other hand, incoherent.

Causality

If one event causes another event, is there a relation of necessity between the two? Famously, Hume argued there was no natural necessity, and he proposed to reduce causation either to regularity or to counterfactual dependency. However, there are many objections and alternatives to Humeanism. Perhaps, causation is singular, simple or rather diverse.

Persistance

Objects can undergo changes and yet remain the same over time. They 'persist'. But what does that mean? What does it involve? In this module the conceptions and the arguments for and against 4 views about persistence are compared. Our starting point is the classic riddle of the Ship of Theseus.

Composition

The special composition question is the question when objects together become parts of a whole? Although it's intuitive that sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, it turns out to be notoriously difficult to pinpoint a criterion. That motivates numerous metaphysicians to argue for extreme answers: either that there are no composite objects at all, or that every single combination of disparate object constitutes a further, composite object.

Response-dependence

In the final module, our relation to the mind-independent world is at stake. Are certain properties, like colors and sounds, secondary qualities, meaning that they exist in the world merely as dispositions to trigger certain responses or experiences in us? And what is the scope of these secondary qualities, this response-dependency?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Takes a creative approach to metaphysics, explaining fundamental problems and views in terms of food and cooking

Explores metaphysics and related topics in a novel and engaging way, making it accessible to a wide range of learners

Offers a comprehensive overview of metaphysics, covering key concepts, problems, and views

Taught by an experienced instructor who is recognized for their work in metaphysics

Suitable for learners with varying levels of prior knowledge in metaphysics

Career center

Learners who complete Reality Bites: Introduction to metaphysics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Metaphysics Professor

A Metaphysics Professor's primary responsibility is to teach metaphysics. Therefore, Reality Bites: Introduction to Metaphysics is an excellent way to prepare for this role. This course may help you build a foundation in metaphysics.

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Philosopher

A Philosopher's work can include teaching, research, and writing about philosophical topics, including metaphysics. Reality Bites: Introduction to Metaphysics may help you strengthen the foundation for your metaphysical research or teachings.

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Theology Professor

Theology Professors teach and research topics of theology and religion. Since metaphysics often deals with the nature of God, this course may be helpful in building a foundation for theological work.

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Epistemologist

Epistemologists study the nature of knowledge and belief. Some of the topics addressed in metaphysics, such as the nature of reality and time, are relevant to epistemology. Reality Bites: Introduction to Metaphysics may therefore be useful to those interested in a career as an Epistemologist.

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Ontologist

Ontologists study the nature of being. Since metaphysics is the study of the fundamental nature of reality, this course would be useful for someone interested in pursuing a career in Ontology.

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Logician

Logicians study logic, the science of reasoning and argument. Logic is essential for studying metaphysics, as it allows one to analyze and evaluate arguments about the nature of reality. Reality Bites: Introduction to Metaphysics may be useful for those interested in a career in Logic.

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Scientist

Scientists study the natural world. Metaphysics may be useful for scientists who are interested in the foundations of science, such as the nature of time and causality.

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Mathematician

Mathematicians study the properties and relationships of numbers and other abstract objects. Metaphysics may be useful for mathematicians who are interested in the foundations of mathematics, such as the nature of numbers and sets.

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Computer Scientist

Computer Scientists study the theory, design, and implementation of computer systems. Metaphysics may be useful for computer scientists who are interested in the foundations of computer science, such as the nature of information and computation.

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Economist

Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Metaphysics may be useful for economists who are interested in the foundations of economics, such as the nature of value and property.

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Sociologist

Sociologists study human society and social behavior. Metaphysics may be useful for sociologists who are interested in the foundations of sociology, such as the nature of social reality and social institutions.

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Political Scientist

Political Scientists study politics and government. Metaphysics may be useful for political scientists who are interested in the foundations of political science, such as the nature of political power and authority.

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Historian

Historians study the past. Metaphysics may be useful for historians who are interested in the foundations of history, such as the nature of time and historical causality.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study human beings and their cultures. Metaphysics may be useful for anthropologists who are interested in the foundations of anthropology, such as the nature of human nature and culture.

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Archaeologist

Archaeologists study the human past through the excavation and analysis of material remains. Metaphysics may be useful for archaeologists who are interested in the foundations of archaeology, such as the nature of time and historical causality.

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