Introduction
Elyse Purcell
Introduction
Science starts with data. Philosophy starts with problems—when two things we believe don’t seem to fit together. That tension is its version of “evidence.” It’s like when your friend says something in the group chat that just doesn’t add up—you pause, ask questions, and dig deeper. That’s philosophy.
So no, philosophical arguments aren’t about winning or being loud. They’re about asking good questions, making thoughtful claims, and testing them carefully—just like any great detective, scientist, or student trying to figure out what’s actually worth believing.
Imagine sitting around with friends, late at night, asking the big questions. Like—What even is reality? Does time really flow, or are we just riding a weird cosmic conveyor belt? Is free will legit, or are we just sophisticated meat puppets responding to stimuli?
Welcome to the world of metaphysics: the branch of philosophy that dares to tackle the ultimate nature of everything.
Quick Definition Break
Classic metaphysical puzzles have been around for centuries. Does God exist? Are we truly free, or is everything predestined? But contemporary metaphysics dives into newer questions, too—like:
- What exactly is a “thing”?
- Does the past still exist, or is it gone forever?
- Is the future already out there, waiting for us?
- Are space and time real “stuff” or just useful frameworks?
- Do abstract entities—like numbers or properties—actually exist?
These aren’t just shower thoughts. They’re serious philosophical problems, and they’re surprisingly hard to answer. Over the centuries, some philosophers have tried to build entire systems—giant, all-encompassing blueprints of reality. But most of those efforts either ran into contradictions or got so complex that no one could follow them anymore.
Example: Descartes’ System
René Descartes tried to build a metaphysical system where everything started with one clear truth: “I think, therefore I am.” From there, he attempted to explain the existence of God, matter, and the human soul. Ambitious? Absolutely. But his system still sparked major debates—and critiques—for centuries.
By the 19th century, metaphysics was kind of the black sheep of philosophy. Many scientists and logical positivists (people who only trusted what could be scientifically verified) dismissed it as pointless, or worse—nonsense. After all, if you can’t run an experiment to test a metaphysical claim, how can you know it’s true?
But don’t count metaphysics out just yet.
In the past few decades, it’s made a serious comeback—especially in the tradition known as analytic metaphysics. Today’s metaphysicians aren’t necessarily trying to uncover The One True Structure of Reality™. Instead, they’re often more like philosophical mechanics, tinkering with ideas and seeing how they work together (or fall apart).
So if you’ve ever asked whether time is real, if free will makes sense, or if numbers have an existence outside of your math homework—congrats. You’re already doing metaphysics.
Metaphysical Questions: Past and Present
Some classic metaphysical questions have been debated for centuries:
- Does God exist?
- Do humans have free will?
- Is the soul real, or just a poetic concept?
But metaphysics has evolved. Today’s philosophers are also asking:
- What is a thing?
- Do the past and future really exist?
- How many dimensions does the world have?
- Are there non-physical entities like numbers or properties?
Summary Box: Key Takeaways
- Metaphysics asks deep questions about existence, time, space, and reality.
- It faced skepticism in the 19th and 20th centuries for being unscientific.
- Contemporary metaphysics focuses more on logical relationships than sweeping worldviews.
Metaphysicians explore what’s possible, necessary, or impossible
