Metaphysics: Key Concepts in Philosophy

Metaphysics-the philosophy of being and knowing-is a subject with which all students of philosophy must grapple. Indeed, a clear grasp of metaphysics is essential to the effective and fulfilling study of philosophy. This guidebook is the ideal introduction to the central ideas and problems encountered when studying metaphysics. it gives a full account of thinking on metaphysics from Plato and Aristotle onwards and illustrates the place of metaphysics in other core areas of philosophy-epistemology; philosophy of language; philosophy of science. Close attention is also given to the critics of metaphysics-logical positivists such as Wittgenstein, Heidegger and Quine.