Advance Metaphysics
- Arts
- 800 level
- 2 credit units
- 99 pages
- 16 units
This course, Advanced Metaphysics, is a 3-credit unit course designed to provide students with a broad understanding of metaphysics. It explores various systems of metaphysics, including realism, idealism, and nominalism. The course delves into concepts of nature, reality, and thought, addressing problems of being, God, and human nature. Students will examine substance, freedom, determinism, essence, existence, and theories of time and space, considering their relevance to contemporary problems.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, problem solving, research
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Short essays
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS861, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS861 · UNIT 1: MEANING, CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL DEFINITION, BRANCHES AND NATURE OF METAPHYSICS
According to Heidegger, the question, why are there essents rather than nothing? Is first in rank among other questions. It is so because it is the most far reaching the deepest and the most fundamental of all questions (2).
What you should be able to do
- Define and differentiate various metaphysical systems.
- Analyze the problems of being, God, and human nature.
- Evaluate arguments for and against determinism.
- Compare and contrast theories of time and space.
- Apply metaphysical concepts to contemporary problems.
What it prepares you for
- Philosopher
- Theologian
- Policy Analyst
- Researcher
- Academic
- Academia
- Research Institutions
- Think Tanks
- Religious Organizations
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Concepts of Nature, Reality and Thought.
Unit 1: The Concepts of Nature, Reality and Thought
The unit requires synthesizing diverse philosophical perspectives on fundamental concepts, demanding abstract reasoning and critical evaluation of historical arguments.
- Module 4: The Problem of Being
Unit 1: On Being and Non-Being: Nature, Characteristics and History
Understanding the nuances of 'being' and 'non-being' requires grappling with abstract ontological concepts and their historical interpretations, which can be challenging for students new to metaphysics.
- Module 5: The Concept of God and Human Nature (Human Person and Self-Identity)
Unit 1: The God Question in Metaphysics
The unit demands critical engagement with arguments for and against God's existence, requiring students to navigate complex philosophical reasoning and theological concepts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 52 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Metaphysics: Nature, Branches and Other Disciplines
Unit 1: Meaning, Conceptual and theoretical definition, branches and nature · 2 hours
Define metaphysics conceptually and theoretically.. Identify the branches of metaphysics and their subject matters.. Distinguish metaphysics from other sciences..
Unit 2: General Issues and Problems in Metaphysics · 2 hours
Examine general issues and problems in metaphysics.. Discuss the relevance of metaphysics to contemporary problems.. Analyze anti-metaphysical thinking..
- Week 2Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics
Unit 1: Realism · 2 hours
Define realism as a metaphysical system.. Understand the historical development of realism.. Identify the variants of realism and their proponents..
Unit II: Idealism · 2 hours
Understand the basic tenets of idealism.. Identify the various strands of idealism.. Understand the historical development of idealism..
- Week 3Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics
Unit 3: Nominalism · 2 hours
Understand the basic ideas at the center of nominalism.. Appreciate the historical development of nominalism.. Identify the various forms of nominalism..
Unit 4: Universalism · 2 hours
Grasp the main current of universalism.. Appreciate the historical development of universalism.. Understand the trends characteristic of systems in metaphysics..
- Week 4Module 3: Concepts of Nature, Reality and Thought.
Unit 1: The Concepts of Nature, Reality and Thought · 4 hours
Highlight what various scholars think of nature, reality, and the possibility of thought.. Gain an overview of philosophical forebears' thinking on these themes.. Rethink these ideas, paying attention to the history of these discourses..
- Week 5Module 4: The Problem of Being
Unit 1: On Being and Non-Being: Nature, Characteristics and History · 4 hours
Understand the centrality of being in metaphysics.. Understand what being and non-being are.. Show the historical character of the discourse on being..
- Week 6Module 5: The Concept of God and Human Nature (Human Person and Self-Identity)
Unit 1: The God Question in Metaphysics · 4 hours
Understand the ubiquitous nature of the God question in metaphysics.. Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of arguments for and against God's existence.. Reflect on the theoretical and practical implications of these discourses..
- Week 7Module 5: The Concept of God and Human Nature (Human Person and Self-Identity)
Unit 2: A Short Note on what Human Nature is · 4 hours
Understand what human nature is.. Appreciate the development of the concept in the history of metaphysics.. Outline defining features of human nature..
- Week 8Module 5: The Concept of God and Human Nature (Human Person and Self-Identity)
Unit 2: On the Problem of Mind and Body · 4 hours
Understand the main thrust of the problem of mind and body.. Gain an overview of the historical perspective to efforts in resolving it.. Reflect on the various theories in an effort to resolve the problem..
- Week 9Module 6: Notion of Substance (Monism vs Pluarism)
Unit 1: Substance: Problems and its Characterisations · 4 hours
Underpin what the notion of substance connotes.. Know the history of the debates surrounding the notion of substance.. Ascertain the various dimensions of what the notion means in metaphysics..
- Week 10Module 7: Freedom and Determinism
Unit 1: Freedom and Free Will · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of freedom.. Underscore the metaphysical basis of the notion of freedom.. Explicate why the notion of freedom is problematic..
- Week 11Module 7: Freedom and Determinism
Unit 2: Determinism · 4 hours
Underpin determinism.. Understand the historical evolution of determinism.. Distinguish the various types of determinism and their proponents..
- Week 12Module 8: Participation
Unit 1: On Participation: Meaning/Definition and Nature · 4 hours
Understand what the term participation connotes/means.. Appreciate the idea of participation in philosophy.. Note the philosophical problems the characterization provokes..
- Week 13Module 9: Essence and Existence
Unit 1: On Essence and Existence · 4 hours
Understand what is essence.. Understand what is existence.. Appreciate the historical contributions of various thinkers to these two terms..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking metaphysical systems (realism, idealism, nominalism) to their core tenets.
- Outline the key arguments for and against the existence of God, noting their philosophical origins.
- Compare and contrast different theories of time and space, focusing on their implications for understanding reality.
- Practice writing concise summaries of complex metaphysical concepts like essence, existence, and participation.
- Review the historical development of metaphysical thought, identifying major philosophers and their contributions.
- Focus on understanding the relationships between different metaphysical concepts and theories, rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS861 about?
This course, Advanced Metaphysics, is a 3-credit unit course designed to provide students with a broad understanding of metaphysics. It explores various systems of metaphysics, including realism, idealism, and nominalism. The course delves into concepts of nature, reality, and thought, addressing problems of being, God, and human nature. Students will examine substance, freedom, determinism, essence, existence, and theories of time and space, considering their relevance to contemporary problems.
How many units does CRS861 have?
CRS861, Advance Metaphysics, has 16 units across 10 modules, over 99 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS861?
CRS861 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is CRS861 hard?
CRS861 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study, problem solving and research work.
How long does CRS861 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 16 units.
How is CRS861 assessed?
CRS861 is assessed by assignments, short essays and final examination.
What can I do with CRS861?
Philosopher, Theologian, Policy Analyst, Researcher and Academic.