Metaphysics An Introduction

by Alyssa Ney

An Introduction, S econd Edition combines comprehensive coverage of the core elements of metaphysics with contemporary and lively debates within the subject. It provides a rigorous and yet accessible overview of a rich array of topics, connecting the abstract nature of metaphysics with the real world. Topics covered This outstanding book not only equips the reader with a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of metaphysics, but provides a valuable guide to contemporary metaphysics and metaphysicians. New for this second edition are updated sections on metaphysical indeterminacy; new sections on manipulation arguments and free will and neuroscience; and new chapters on the important topics of social ontology, fundamentality, and grounding. Additional features such as exercises, annotated further reading, a glossary, and a companion website have also been updated and will help students find their way around this subject and assist teachers in the classroom.

Genres: Philosophy, Metaphysics, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Academic

Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jan vanTilburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not realized what I got myself into! Let me say I did enjoy reading (studying) this book. And I already have the experience when reading other philosophical books that the basics from this book helps me to understand them better.

Wanted to get insight in the realm of meta physics: “to understand the structure of reality: what kinds of entities exist and what are their most fundamental and general features and relations”
Getting a method to “logically” describe the “truth”. It is because philosophers want a trustworthy method for arriving at the truth that much of our time is spent seeking out good arguments.

But it is mindboggling to read a certain theory to have it dismissed in the next paragraph. Some with understandable arguments, others with seemingly ridiculous argumentation. (Incredulous). Metaphysics is cleary not a stable field of study. Their are as many views as their are people.
Ney does a great job by giving us all the viewpoints and giving us the latest (2014) insights of the field.

So I did enjoy reading this book.
The chapter about Free Will is my favorite!
Very insightful.
Also the last chapter about Race was great.

[Harrison Zhang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Overview of Metaphysical Topics. Favorite sections were critiques of Metaphysics (Paul's Handmaiden's Tale), Time (Special Relativity), and Free Will/Detetermism, specifically what it means to define an event in the context of quantum physics (microscopic) vs the naked perception (macroscopic). Is free will inherently too abstract where the macroscopic occurs in the same way with an infinite number of different microscopic compositions? Deterministic on the macroscopic; indeterministic on the microsopic? How does free will fit in?

[Arnar Ágúst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fékk að kynnast heimsspeki í gegnum þessa bók. Bókin er mjög skýr og er auðvelt að lesa hana. Miklu skýrari en kennarinn. Fannst margt mjög áhugavert í þessari bók. En það var líka margt mjög óáhugavert. Eins og umræðuefni sem virtust ekki hafa neina merkingu og spekingarnir þykjast vera ósammála um.

[ayyluluu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing introductory book on every major topic in contemporary metaphysics, well sourced, detailed with examples and further readings.

I adored chapters on ontology, abstract entitied, material objects, time, modality, persistence, and causation.

[Rory Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear and straightforward introduction to the main topics covered in Metaphysics courses.

What the book does very well is that it introduces each set of issues in a mainly ‘objective’ way, referring to the perspectives and champions of those views, but largely leaving it for readers to make their own minds up about the issues.

Sometimes the complexities of the issues undermine that methodology. For example, the first chapter presents Quine’s approach for determining what exists. It tells us that quantifying over variables clarifies ontology. But one of the problems of that approach is that it rests on an assumption that names are descriptions. Later in the book there is a recognition that later theories of Rigid designators challenge the description theory, but there is no revisiting of the ontological questions which were left hanging based on a resolution which assumed that theory. If we have reason to doubt that names are just descriptions, then doesn’t that completely undermine what was suggested in the first chapter as a way of solving ontological questions?

What would have been beneficial is a suggested approach for those who do not feel that a Quinean approach is adequate. But, the book just moves on. That is not entirely surprising in an Introductory book like this, as there is only so much space available for each topic. Nevertheless it was disappointing not to be able to engage with alternative positions.

One of the problems with books like this is that although they do well to provide reading lists at the end of each chapter, those lists can rapidly get out of date, as new publications are emerging all the time. A new fourth edition of the book recently came out, with updated reading lists. That is helpful, but it also means that readers need to be careful to clarify the edition, in engaging with, or citing, this (third edition) book.

Overall, this is a broad and accessible text for undergraduates, which is well pitched to their academic needs. It is a little mono-cultural, in that it is mainly written for philosophy students in the analytic Anglo-American tradition, but in fairness that tradition is probably now one of the most prominent in the English speaking philosophical world.

[Mandelbrot · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a poor attempt, from an amateur academic, at an 'introduction' to Metaphysics. The first chapter is saturated in contrails of a first-timer who seems to be using this piece to practice becoming good at writing. Having studied Logic and Argumentation before, I can tell that Ney obfuscates to the extreme - often making the most obvious of mistakes; completely undermining the credibility of this book. For example, she writes "an argument is (deductively) invalid just in case there is no way for its premises to be true..." (pg 4) - while the rest of the sentence goes on to be okay, the use of the phrase 'just in case' is thoroughly unnecessary and confusing [where it would be better replaced with: "where" or "when"].

Although I could see through the many mistakes like it, I worry for those who have this book as their very first interaction with Philosophy. To write clearly and simply is taught at an undergraduate level - even at High School - so I am intensely disappointed in the lack of developed skill from this "Associate Professor".

I'm very sorry to have paid for this book: considering its cost, one expects so much more.

[Salem Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really solid introduction to metaphysics, with a solid overview of the most pressing topics in the field. Ney writes in a way that is easily understood but still effectively communicating a lot of information. She also introduces everything in a way that even someone just getting into philosophy would understand (although it would definitely help in some areas to understand a bit of formal modal logic). Each chapter introduces and motivates reasons to care about the topic, while also providing a brief history of how the various views have developed. Although the book would not get someone to the point where they could do metaphysics, it at least gets them to the point where they can read current literature on metaphysics, which is perfect for an introduction.

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times extremely dry and confusing - even for the professor who was teaching the course I used this for.
Despite that I did learn quite a bit from this book and I'd say that I will probably want to go back and reread about half of the chapters.
Because of how technical, confusing and convoluted most chapters are, I would not recommend this to anyone who does not already have a strong background in metaphysics or logic.

[Renee Is A Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

[Talia Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

mind go boom

[B.D.N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it’s well written and interesting, but it seems to be littered with blind spots. It should be titled an “Intro to Metaphysics in the the Analytic tradition”.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a university course on metaphysics and was awfully disappointed. I otherwise find this an absolutely fascinating field of study.

It would, however, get one more stars if it was named properly after its actual content. This is an introduction to a specific view of metaphysics and thus leave many questions completely untouched and sorely missed - such as the philosophy of mind. Someone uninitiated to the ponderings of metaphysics might be mislead and bored away from the subject with this one alone.
The book also ends with a chapter on the metaphysics of race, to remind you that the current political hysteria has penetrated all fields of study. I wonder why several other areas went ignored only for this to take their place.

To sum it up. This is a somewhat uninspiring school textbook with a misleading description of itself. However, you can still learn a lot, even if you miss out on some key areas of metaphysics.

[Farhan Niazi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an introduction to contemporary metaphysics from the analytic perspective.

The book starts off with a review of formal logic after which it delves into topics in contemporary metaphysics.

References for further readings are provided, and i especially liked the presentation with definitions of important concepts and distinctions provided in the marigins, as well as boxes with additional asides and examples.

I only looked at definitions in the chapters on time, persistence and race as those topics dont interest me much, and i haven't read the chapter on free will but the rest of the book holds up.

The book doesnt have a chapter on philosophy of mind which i hope the author adds in the next edition.

Check it out.
I'll update my review incase i find a better alternative.