Elements Of Metaphysics (The Heritage series in philosophy) [Hardcover]

William Carter (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Heritage series in philosophy | Publication Date: September 27, 1989

This introduction to metaphysics provides a concise explanation and discussion of the branch of philosophy that concerns the nature of the world we inhabit. The approach is partly historical but focuses largely on recent arguments and lines of thought. William Carter addresses many issues, among them: the nature of mind, matter, ideas, and substance; the debate between those who believe human beings have free will and those who subscribe to determinism; fatalism, realism, and personal identity; and arguments for and against belief in the existence of God. He also explores the implications of such intellectual exercises for defining the boundaries of human knowledge and human responsibility. Woven into the authors discussion are the ideas of historical and contemporary figures who have made significant philosophical contributions in these areas. Carter tries to eliminate the intimidation that the term 'metaphysics' can generate among students and general readers. Demonstrating how metaphysics overlaps extensively with nearly every branch of philosophical inquiry, he provides contemporary and often amusing examples to introduce the important topics of metaphysics and make current technical debates comprehensible for novices. Author note: William R. Carter is Professor of Philosophy at North Carolina State University.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a work of the highest quality It is lucid, spells out each position with readily comprehensible arguments, and manages in the process to effortlessly integrate the most current views with classical, historical material... It is without doubt the best general introduction to current treatments of metaphysics I have seen. A first-rate book." --Gerald Vision, Temple University

From the Publisher

A concise explanation and discussion of the branch of philosophy that concerns the nature of the world we inhabit

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (September 27, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877226199
• ISBN-13: 978-0877226192
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,571,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disjointed, July 5, 2006

By 

kenu-raido - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements Of Metaphysics (The Heritage series in philosophy) (Hardcover)

I'm having a hard time with this book. I'm nearly finished with it. I guess I "can't see the forest for the trees", so-to-speak. I'm not sure if this is the subject matter or Carter's presentation of it. However, in retrospect, I find reading Moore and Bruder's chapters on Metaphysics (in Philosophy: The Power of Ideas) much clearer. I don't dissuade a reader from this book; I only caution that I didn't find the book a model of clarity and organization.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is an excellent over all view of philosophy in 1 book., October 14, 1999

By 

Warren Wiippa ([e-mail]) (Taipei, Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elements of Metaphysics (Paperback)

I read this when I was a student and it laid the foundation for me to go on and study philosophy with the possible certainty that I understood what I was reading. I use the reasoning in this book to evaluate most everything I read, teach, write, or do.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to a central area of philosophy, May 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Elements Of Metaphysics (The Heritage series in philosophy) (Hardcover)

This book was the first introduction I had to the area of metaphysics. The first chapter does a good job of explaining just what metaphysics is about. It is unfortunate that most people associate the word 'metaphysics' with crystal religions and astrology because that is NOT what metaphysics means in philosophy. If one is interested in finding out what "true" metaphysics is, this book is accessible to almost anyone. The later chapters get complicated but if the reader takes some time, the material can be understood. One thing to note is that Carter's own views dominate the book and, as with anything, one should not just read this book. Readers might be interested in Peter van Inwagen's *Metaphysics* after reading this book. Also, if *Elements of Metaphysics* does get too thick, the reader may wish to read Thomas Nagel's *What Does It All Mean?* before continuing to work through Carter's book.