Assessment

Essay 40%, final exam 60%

Module Aims

Classical Metaphysics starts with our experience of Being. It moves on to the basic principles of being, in particular the Principle of Non-Contradiction. It then discusses the analogical quality of our experience of Being, looking at the articulation of beings in terms of substances and accidents. Aristotle’s discussion of potency, and its role in understanding change and multiplicity is also treated and, centrally being as act. Finally we discuss the properties of being, known as the transcendentals, and the communication of being in causality.

Learning Outcomes

• — 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the main metaphysical questions.
• — 2. Discuss the progress of classical metaphysical theory from the early Greek metaphysical thinkers to the medieval synthesis culminating in Aquinas.
• — 3. Recognise various approaches to the question of substance and compare the classical theory to the modern notions espoused by Spinoza and the British Empiricists.
• — 4. Highlight the impact of the religious background of classical thinkers on their philosophical questioning.
• — 5. Illustrate the central role of potency and act in the metaphysical syntheses achieved by Aristotle and Aquinas.
• — 6. Explain the role of the transcendental qualities of goodness, truth, unity and beauty in helping us to understand Being.