Metaphysics

Explore fundamental concepts like being, essence, substance, and causality and their historical perspectives in both Western and Indian traditions to understand reality and existence.

Metaphysics

1 Etymology (Definition and Scope)

  1. Etymology of Metaphysics
  2. Definition of Metaphysics
  3. Scope of Metaphysics

2 Fundamental Notions and Principles

  1. Fundamental Notions and Principles (Western)
  2. Fundamental Notions and Principles (Indian)

3 Brief History of Western Metaphysics

  1. Survey of Major Metaphysicians
  2. Heraclitus (C. 500 B.C.E.E)
  3. Parmenides (C. 550 B.C.E.)
  4. Plato (428-348 B.C.E.)
  5. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.)
  6. Augustine (353-430 C.E.)
  7. Aquinas (1225-1274)
  8. Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
  9. Christian Wolff (1679-1754)
  10. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

4 Brief History of Indian Metaphysics

  1. The Vedas
  2. The Upanisads
  3. The Bhagavad Gita
  4. Metaphysical Systems
  5. Vedanta
  6. Buddhism
  7. Jainism
  8. Saivism
  9. Sikhism: Guru Nanak
  10. Contemporary Indian Metaphysics

5 Being and Essence

  1. Characteristics of Being
  2. Characteristics of Essence

6 Substance and Accidents

  1. Etymological Meaning
  2. Development of the Doctrine
  3. Kinds of Substance
  4. Characteristics of Substance
  5. Accidents
  6. Characteristics of the Accident

7 Matter and Form

  1. Classical Views
  2. Scientific Views
  3. Prime Matter
  4. Substantial Form

8 Act and Potency

  1. Act
  2. Potency
  3. Potency and Possibility
  4. Potency and Change
  5. Potency and Evolution

9 Being and Relation

  1. Ontology of Relation
  2. Epistemology of Relation

10 Being and Causality

  1. Main Kinds of Cause
  2. Intrinsic Causes: Material Cause and Formal Cause
  3. Extrinsic Causes: Efficient Cause Final Cause and Exemplary Cause
  4. Allied Concepts: Condition, Occasion, Sufficient Reason, and Chance

11 Being and Analogy

  1. Analogy of Being from Western Perspectives
  2. Analogy of Being from Indian Perspectives

12 Being and the Problem of One and Many

  1. Early Western Perspectives
  2. Early Indian Perspectives
  3. Being as One in Many
  4. Finite Being as One in Many

13 Categorial Notion of Being (Being and Categories)

  1. Early Western Perspective: Aristotle
  2. Early Indian Perspective: Vaiseshika School

14 Agapeic Notion of Being (Being and Agape)

  1. Notion of Being
  2. Being as Agape (love)
  3. Freedom as Condition of Love
  4. Agapeic Love

15 Transcendental Notion of Being (Being and Transcendentals)

  1. Being as One
  2. Being as True
  3. Being as Good
  4. Being as Beautiful

16 Absolute Notion of Being (Being and Absolute)

  1. Starting With Heidegger
  2. The Notion of Absolute
  3. God the Unlimited Existence
  4. The Be-ing of Beings is Personal
  5. Be-ing is Bliss
  6. Responding to Be-ing