1. Metaphysics The study of the basic structures of reality

2. What is reality? What is reality? Why is there something and not nothing? Why is there something and not nothing? What is it to exist? What is it to exist? What is a being? What is a being? What is a person? What is a person? Am I Free? Am I Free? Is there a supreme being? Is there a supreme being?

3. Theories Common Sense Realism Common Sense Realism What people perceive under ordinary conditions is reality. What people perceive under ordinary conditions is reality.

4. Theories Idealism Idealism George Berkely 18 th Century George Berkely 18 th Century Denies existence of material things Denies existence of material things Reality is ideas and the minds that hold these ideas Reality is ideas and the minds that hold these ideas Objects are ideas that God placed in humans Objects are ideas that God placed in humans

5. Theories Platonic Realism Platonic Realism Reality is ideal forms or ideas that are timeless, unchanging, immaterial, and more perfect than the world of changeable things Reality is ideal forms or ideas that are timeless, unchanging, immaterial, and more perfect than the world of changeable things

6. Theories Materialism or Physicalism Materialism or Physicalism Pre-Socratic Philosophers Pre-Socratic Philosophers Everything is physical; Reality consists of matter. Everything is physical; Reality consists of matter. Matter – particles in motion and forces like gravity. Matter – particles in motion and forces like gravity.

7. Theories Monism Monism Reality is one all encompassing thing Reality is one all encompassing thing All particular things are expressions of this one thing All particular things are expressions of this one thing Thing can be material or mental Thing can be material or mental Baruch Spinoza argued it could also be divine Baruch Spinoza argued it could also be divine String Theory – everything composed of one-dimensional strings of energy String Theory – everything composed of one-dimensional strings of energy Materialism and Idealism are Monists Theories

8. Theories Dualism Dualism Descartes Descartes Reality consists of two things: Mind and Matter Reality consists of two things: Mind and Matter Interactionism – Common version of Dualism Mind and Body co-exist as separate entities Epiphenomenalism – Mind is a byproduct of Body

9. Materialism versus Dualism Materialism Materialism Man is simply an animal, and brains are simply chemical systems Man is simply an animal, and brains are simply chemical systems Computers are humans? Computers are humans? Question of souls? Question of souls? Dualism Dualism Mental is separate from Physical Mind and Soul can pre-exist the body and survive bodily death Believe in afterlife, and paranormal