Preview

Four Theoretical Approaches to Metaphysics—Dualism, Materialism, Idealism, and Alternative Views Essay Example

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1117 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Four Theoretical Approaches to Metaphysics—Dualism, Materialism, Idealism, and Alternative Views Essay Example
Resource: Writing Wizard at the Center for Writing Excellence; Chapter Six of Philosophy: The Power of Ideas

Four theoretical approaches to metaphysics—Dualism, Materialism, Idealism, and Alternative Views (i.e., double aspect theory)—are competing for the right to claim that they are the correct metaphysical view.

Select one of these theories and construct the strongest possible argument on its behalf in an essay of 700-1400 words.

In your paper, acknowledge and describe the other positions, but present convincing evidence as to why your position is superior. Offer refutations of the other theories.

Include at least one direct quotation from the text.

There are four theoretical approaches to the metaphysics and they include Dualism and the theory that what exists on can do so on two levels the physical or the mental. The next approach is Materialism which theorizes that everything exists on a physical level. Then there is the Idealism approach which states that everything that exists is mental or spiritual. Finally, there is Alternative Views which theorizes that what exists in neither mental nor spiritual but believed that what exists is both, which means that what exists is neutral.

In the Materialism theory of metaphysics it is said that everything is made of some kind of structure that are now called atoms. These atoms are governed entirely by physical laws and are thought to make up everything that we know and see. There were and are still many men in the scientific community that feel this way, but the most pronounced one was named Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes implied “clearly that all things are made of material particles and that all change reduces to motion.” (cite) His theory states that everything is matter in motion to include an individual’s thought process. Hobbes goes into detail about how this process works and called it perception or sense. His way of describing it is the fact that things have different properties and that

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Chapters 6 And 7 Module 2

    • 1747 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hobbes believed that all things are made up of material pieces, and that all change reduces to motion i.e…

    • 1747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    References: Hasker, W. (1983). Metaphysics: Constructing a World View. (1st ed.). Downers Grove: IL: InterVarsity Press.…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In philosophy, a term known as metaphysics, referred to the writings of Aristotle nearly three centuries after his death. Metaphysics is the area of philosophy that attempts to understand the basic nature of all reality, whether it is seen or indistinguishable we try to relate to our existence. It seeks a description so basic that it applies to everything, whether divine or human. In short, metaphysics attempts to enlighten what anything must be like in order to be at all. To call one a metaphysician in this traditional, philosophical sense indicates nothing more than his or her interest in attempting to discover what underlies everything. Old materialists, who said that there is nothing but matter in motion, and current naturalists, who say that everything is made of lifeless, non-experiencing energy, are just as much to be classified as metaphysicians as are idealists, who maintain that there is nothing but ideas, or mind, or spirit (Metaphysics, par 2). The major schools of thought in relation with metaphysics are realism, idealism, materialism, determinism, and libertarianism.…

    • 1050 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    shaw and baerry

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages

    REMEMBER, YOU MUST USE YOUR SELECTED THEORY TO SUPPORT YOUR POSITION AND SHOULD SPECIFICALLY USE FACTS AND INFORMATION FROM THE READINGS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR POSITION.…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    and describe (50+ words) the respective theory in the far left column. (2) Under the Intent…

    • 2869 Words
    • 38 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Also mentioned will be a number of theories and concepts, here is a few brief definitions of those mentioned in this essay.…

    • 2018 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Study Guide 7

    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that deals with questions of reality. Since it deals with literally everything that exists, it is perhaps the broadest branch of philosophy. However, we will briefly spend time in this area. In this lesson, we will introduce some of the questions that we seek to answer in metaphysics as well as some basic metaphysical terminology you will need to master as we discuss metaphysical issues. We will also discuss the issue of method in arriving at answers to our metaphysical questions.…

    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ontological argument: The area of metaphysics that deals with the nature of being and reality.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Theory and Points

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Describe the theory in your own words. What phenomenon of concern or problems are addressed by the theory (10 points)…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Week 2 3 4 matrix

    • 603 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Metaphysics is the study of the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and body, substance, and accident, events, and causation.…

    • 603 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    order of operations

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages

    After reviewing each of the above theories, choose one theory and theorist and answer the following questions in a paragraph essay format:…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    You have to write an argumentative essay for or against one of these arguments. You can still come up with your own arguments after you run them by me.…

    • 831 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Idealism: in metaphysics, the position that reality is ultimately non matter; in EPISTEMOLOGY, the position that all we know is our ideas.…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Materialist Theory

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The view that I have selected and decided to analysed, explained and defend is the materialist theory. The main reason for my choice of this view over the idealist one is that, in my opinion, empiricism shows us humans and provide hard evidence which I will detailed in this opinion piece that matter does exists and we are surrounded by it on a day to day basis. The great Philosopher John Locke express his opinion which I clearly agree with that our minds have no ideas and concepts when we are born, as such we develop and gain knowledge over time from experiences. Without experiencing sensation or reflection we generally would not be able to differentiate the differences between physical properties such as shapes, size, texture or colour. For…

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dualism

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The focus of the article “Dualism Defended” by J.P. Moreland is the conflict between Physicalism, the idea that the only thing that exists is matter, and Dualism, the idea that not just a body exists, but a mind/soul as well.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays