We provide high quality, online courses to help you learn the skills needed to achieve your goals. Our courses are not just tutorials; they are real. They include lessons, assignments, exams, discussion boards and an instructor to help you master the learning outcomes. All courses are self-paced. You can learn when you want on your own time. You do not need to be online at a specific date or time.
500+ Courses
5,000,000+ Lessons
60,000+ students
When the word “metaphysics” is mentioned, a wide variety of possible meanings springs to mind. For some, it is often considered part of the science of physics; to others, it might mean something mystical; to others still, it might represent a branch of philosophy or merely an incomprehensible mass of theoretical musings that could only be understood by professors with patches on their elbows living in an ivory tower somewhere. While all of these notions may have some merit to them, they only touch upon the true scope and purpose of metaphysics.
Since the beginning of philosophy and man’s quest to learn about himself and the universe that surrounds him, there has been the discipline of metaphysics. While it may not have always been called such, it is nevertheless an important aspect of being human that everyone has dabbled with to one degree or another. Metaphysics, which may sound very complex, is really nothing more than thinking about what exists and what the ultimate reality of the universe is (Geirsson & Losonsky, 1998).
Questions within the metaphysical field involve many of the “big” issues in life: What is the universe made of? Is there an absolute right and wrong? Does God (or a creator) exist? Does free will exist or are we traveling on a predetermined path? All of these concepts and more, as well as their implications for human thought and life, are part and parcel of the philosophical discipline of metaphysics. Most people may not think in terms of “doing metaphysical thought”–at least not in the strict philosophical sense–but the fact remains that all thinking human beings have some sort of metaphysics that guide their lives everyday–a “worldview” in essence.
This course will look at the metaphysics definition; what the key concepts and terms within the topic are; its practical ramifications; and the history, development, and major schools of thought from the ancient Greeks to modern times. Modern “New Age” metaphysics will also be discussed. By the conclusion of the course, it is hoped that the student will have a better comprehension of metaphysics and perhaps a increased desire to study further.