The Best Source of Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings by Michael J. Loux
Loux Metaphysics Contemporary Readings PDF Free: A Review
Metaphysics is one of the oldest and most fundamental branches of philosophy. It deals with questions about the nature of reality, existence, causation, identity, time, modality, and more. If you are interested in learning more about metaphysics, or if you are looking for a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the subject, you might want to check out the book Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings by Michael J. Loux.
loux metaphysics contemporary readings pdf free
In this article, we will review the book and its author, and we will also show you how you can get a free PDF copy of it online. We will cover the following topics:
What is metaphysics and why is it important?
Who is Michael J. Loux and what are his contributions to metaphysics?
What is the book Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings and what does it offer?
How can you get a free PDF copy of the book?
What is metaphysics and why is it important?
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that studies the most fundamental aspects of reality. The word "metaphysics" comes from the Greek meta, meaning "after" or "beyond", and physika, meaning "physics" or "nature". The term was coined by Andronicus of Rhodes, who edited the works of Aristotle and placed his treatises on first philosophy after his treatises on physics. Thus, metaphysics came to be understood as the study of what lies beyond or behind the physical world.
The nature and scope of metaphysics
The nature and scope of metaphysics
Metaphysics is not a unified or homogeneous field of inquiry. Rather, it encompasses a variety of topics and questions that are often interrelated but also distinct. Some of the main questions that metaphysicians ask are:
What is being? What does it mean to exist? What kinds of things exist?
What are the categories or modes of being? How are they related to each other?
What are the properties or attributes of things? How do they differ from things themselves?
What are the relations or connections between things? How do they affect or depend on each other?
What are the causes or explanations of things? How do they determine or influence their effects?
What are the possibilities or alternatives for things? How do they relate to actuality or necessity?
What are the identities or essences of things? How do they persist or change over time?
What are the principles or laws of reality? How do they govern or constrain things?
These questions are not exhaustive or exclusive. There are many other topics and subtopics that metaphysicians explore, such as substance, modality, universals, particulars, events, facts, states of affairs, propositions, numbers, sets, functions, space, time, motion, change, continuity, discreteness, infinity, causation, determinism, free will, agency, action, intentionality, mind, body, soul, personhood, identity, persistence, survival, death, God, morality, value, meaning, and more.
The main branches and problems of metaphysics
The main branches and problems of metaphysics
Metaphysics can be divided into two main branches: general metaphysics and special metaphysics. General metaphysics deals with the most abstract and universal questions about reality as a whole. Special metaphysics deals with the more concrete and specific questions about particular domains or aspects of reality.
Some of the main problems or debates that arise in general metaphysics are:
The problem of universals: Are there abstract entities that can be predicated of or instantiated by many different things? If so, what is their nature and status? Are they real or nominal? Are they transcendent or immanent? Are they simple or complex? Are they one or many?
The problem of individuation: What makes a thing distinct from other things? What are the criteria or principles of identity and difference? Are they intrinsic or extrinsic? Are they qualitative or quantitative? Are they essential or accidental?
The problem of modality: What are the sources and limits of possibility and necessity? What are the modes or kinds of modality? Are they logical or metaphysical? Are they de dicto or de re? Are they absolute or relative? Are they objective or subjective?
The problem of substance: What are the basic or fundamental entities that constitute reality? What are their features and functions? Are they material or immaterial? Are they simple or composite? Are they enduring or perduring? Are they independent or dependent?
Some of the main problems or debates that arise in special metaphysics are:
The problem of time: What is the nature and structure of time? Is it linear or circular? Is it continuous or discrete? Is it absolute or relative? Is it tensed or tenseless? Is it real or illusory?
The problem of causation: What is the nature and structure of causation? Is it a relation or a process? Is it deterministic or probabilistic? Is it necessary or contingent? Is it symmetric or asymmetric? Is it transitive or intransitive?
The problem of free will: What is the nature and scope of human freedom and responsibility? Are they compatible or incompatible with determinism and causation? Are they physical or mental? Are they rational or irrational? Are they active or passive?
The problem of mind: What is the nature and origin of human consciousness and cognition? Are they natural or supernatural? Are they physical or non-physical? Are they reducible or irreducible? Are they emergent or fundamental?
The relevance and value of metaphysics for philosophy and life
The relevance and value of metaphysics for philosophy and life
Metaphysics is often regarded as a difficult and obscure subject that has little to do with practical matters. However, this is a misconception that overlooks the importance and significance of metaphysics for philosophy and life. Metaphysics is not only a theoretical inquiry into reality but also a critical reflection on our own assumptions and beliefs about reality. Metaphysics helps us to:
Clarify and analyze the concepts and categories that we use to understand and describe reality.
Critique and evaluate the arguments and evidence that we use to justify and support our claims about reality.
Compare and contrast the different perspectives and frameworks that we use to interpret and explain reality.
Create and explore the different possibilities and alternatives that we use to imagine and transform reality.
By doing metaphysics, we can improve our logical thinking skills, expand our intellectual horizons, deepen our philosophical insights, enrich our cultural diversity, enhance our ethical awareness, and empower our creative potential. Metaphysics is not only a source of knowledge but also a source of wisdom.
Who is Michael J. Loux and what are his contributions to metaphysics?
on various topics and problems in metaphysics, such as realism, universals, modality, substances, identity, time, and more. He has also edited and contributed to several anthologies and collections of essays on metaphysics. He is best known for his books Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction and Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings, which are widely used as textbooks and references in metaphysics courses and research.
His academic background and publications
His academic background and publications
Michael J. Loux was born in 1942 in New York City. He received his B.A. in philosophy from Holy Cross College in 1964, and his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He taught at St. Louis University from 1968 to 1972, and then at the University of Notre Dame from 1972 to 2011. He retired as the George N. Shuster Professor of Philosophy in 2011. He is currently a professor emeritus of philosophy at Notre Dame.
He has published over a dozen books and over a hundred articles and chapters on metaphysics and related fields. Some of his most notable books are:
The Ontology of William of Ockham (1974)
Ockham's Theory of Terms: Part I of the Summa Logicae (1974), translation and commentary
Substance and Attribute: A Study in Ontology (1978)
The Possible and the Actual: Readings in the Metaphysics of Modality (1979), editor
Universals and Particulars: Readings in Ontology (1979), editor
Primary Ousia: An Essay on Aristotle's Metaphysics Z and H (1991)
Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction (1998, 2002, 2006), first, second, and third editions
Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings (1997, 2001), first and second editions, editor
The Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics (2003), co-editor with Dean Zimmerman
Nature, Knowledge, and God: Essays in Honor of Alvin Plantinga (2004), co-editor with Kelly James Clark and Thomas Flint
The Metaphysics of Everyday Life: An Essay in Practical Realism (2006)
Beyond the Elements: Essays on Nature's Metaphysical Foundations (2010), co-editor with Jeffrey Brower
Aristotle's Categories and Metaphysics Zeta (2014)
The Problem of Universals in Contemporary Philosophy (2015), co-editor with Gabriele Galluzzo
Metaphysical Themes: A Collection of Studies by Michael J. Loux (2017)
His views on realism, universals, modality, and substances
His views on realism, universals, modality, and substances
Loux is a metaphysical realist who defends the existence and objectivity of abstract entities such as universals, possible worlds, propositions, facts, states of affairs, events, numbers, sets, functions, etc. He argues that these entities are necessary for explaining various aspects of reality such as predication, instantiation, resemblance, modality, truth, causation, etc. He also argues that these entities are not dependent on human language or thought but rather exist independently of them.
Loux is also a moderate realist about universals who holds that there are both transcendent and immanent universals. Transcendent universals are those that can exist without being instantiated by any particular thing. Immanent universals are those that can only exist by being instantiated by some particular thing. Loux maintains that both types of universals are needed to account for the different ways that we can refer to or think about properties or attributes.
Loux is also a modal actualist who holds that there are no non-actual possible worlds or things. He rejects the view of David Lewis that possible worlds are concrete and spatiotemporally isolated entities that are just as real as the actual world. He also rejects the view of Alvin Plantinga that possible worlds are abstract entities that represent ways that the actual world could have been. Instead, he adopts the view of Robert Adams that possible worlds are properties or states of affairs that are exemplified by the actual world in different ways. He also adopts the view of Thomas Aquinas that possible things are essences or natures that are instantiated by actual things in different ways.
Loux is also a substance dualist who holds that there are two kinds of substances: material and immaterial. Material substances are those that have spatial extension and are subject to physical laws and causation. Immaterial substances are those that lack spatial extension and are not subject to physical laws and causation. Loux argues that human beings are composed of both material and immaterial substances: a body and a soul. He argues that the body and the soul are distinct but related by a form of hylomorphic composition, where the soul is the form or principle of organization of the body.
His approach to teaching and writing metaphysics
His approach to teaching and writing metaphysics
Loux is widely recognized as an excellent teacher and writer of metaphysics. He has taught metaphysics courses at various levels, from undergraduate to graduate, for over four decades. He has also supervised numerous doctoral dissertations and mentored many young scholars in metaphysics. He has received several awards and honors for his teaching and research, such as the Kaneb Teaching Award, the Joyce Teaching Award, the Presidential Award, and the Aquinas Medal.
Loux's approach to teaching and writing metaphysics is characterized by clarity, rigor, depth, breadth, balance, and relevance. He aims to present metaphysics as a systematic and coherent discipline that engages with both historical and contemporary sources and debates. He also aims to show how metaphysics relates to other branches of philosophy and other fields of knowledge and inquiry. He strives to make metaphysics accessible and interesting to students and readers of different backgrounds and interests.
What is the book Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings and what does it offer?
Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings is an anthology of classic and contemporary readings by leading philosophers on various topics and problems in metaphysics. It is edited by Michael J. Loux and was first published in 1997 by Routledge. A second edition was published in 2001 with some revisions and additions. The book is intended to complement Loux's textbook Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction, but it can also be used independently or with other textbooks.
The structure and content of the book
The structure and content of the book
The book consists of an introduction by Loux and 69 readings divided into 11 parts. Each part focuses on a major topic or problem in metaphysics, such as universals, particulars, modality, identity, time, etc. Each part begins with a brief introduction by Loux that summarizes the main issues and arguments involved in the topic or problem. Each reading is preceded by a short introduction by Loux that provides some background information and context for the reading. Each reading is followed by some study questions by Loux that help the reader to understand and evaluate the reading.
The readings are selected from both historical and contemporary sources, ranging from Plato and Aristotle to Quine and Kripke. The readings represent different perspectives and approaches to metaphysics, such as realism, nominalism, idealism, empiricism, rationalism, analytic philosophy, continental philosophy, etc. The readings cover both core and cutting-edge topics and problems in metaphysics, such as substance, essence, existence, causation, free will, mind, God, etc.
The strengths and weaknesses of the book
The strengths and weaknesses of the book
The book has many strengths as an anthology of metaphysics readings. Some of them are:
It offers a comprehensive and balanced coverage of the main topics and problems in metaphysics.
It provides a clear and concise introduction to each topic or problem by Loux.
It includes both classic and contemporary readings by leading philosophers.
It represents different perspectives and approaches to metaphysics.
It helps the reader to understand and evaluate each reading by providing background information, context, study questions, etc.
It complements Loux's textbook Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction very well.
The book also has some weaknesses as an anthology of metaphysics readings. Some of them are:
include some of the latest developments and debates in metaphysics.
It is somewhat biased as it favors Loux's own views and preferences on some topics and problems.
It is somewhat difficult as it assumes some prior knowledge and familiarity with metaphysics and philosophy.
It is somewhat expensive as it costs more than other anthologies of metaphysics readings.
How can you get a free PDF copy of the book?
If you are interested in reading the book Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings by Michael J. Loux, you might wonder how you can get a free PDF copy of it online. There are several ways to do that, but not all of them are legal or ethical. In this section, we will discuss the legal and ethical issues of downloading free PDF books online, and we will also provide some sources and methods of finding free PDF books online.
The legal and ethical issues of downloading free PDF books online
The legal and ethical issues of downloading free PDF books online
Downloading free PDF books online is not always legal or ethical. It depends on the source and the status of the book. Some books are in the public domain, which means that they are not protected by copyright laws and can be freely downloaded, copied, distributed, or modified. Some books are under a creative commons license, which means that they can be freely downloaded, copied, distributed, or modified under certain conditions and restrictions. Some books are under a fair use doctrine, which means that they can be downloaded, copied, distributed, or modified for limited and non-commercial purposes such as education, research, criticism, etc.
However, some books are under a strict copyright protection, which means that they cannot be downloaded, copied, distributed, or modified without the permission of the author or the publisher. Doing so would be illegal and unethical, as it would violate the intellectual property rights and the moral rights of the author or the publisher. It would also harm the author or the publisher financially and reputationally, as it would reduce their sales and income and damage their credibility and authority.
Therefore, before downloading a free PDF book online, you should always check the source and the status of the book. You should only download a free PDF book online if it is in the public domain, under a creative commons license, or under a fair use doctrine. You should not download a free PDF book online if it is under a strict copyright protection. You should respect the law and the ethics of downloading free PDF books online.
The sources and methods of finding free PDF books online
The sources and methods of finding free PDF books online
If you want to download a free PDF book online legally and ethically, you need to find a reliable and reputable source that offers free PDF books online. There are many sources that offer free PDF books online, but not all of them are trustworthy or legitimate. Some sources may offer pirated or counterfeit copies of books that are illegal or unethical to download. Some sources may offer low-quality or incomplete copies of books that are unsatisfactory or misleading to read. Some sources may offer malicious or infected copies of books that may harm your device or data.
Therefore, you need to be careful and selective when choosing a source for downloading free PDF books online. You need to do some research and verification before trusting a source for downloading free PDF books online. You need to look for some indicators and criteria that can help you evaluate the quality and credibility of a source for downloading free PDF books online. Some of these indicators and criteria are:
The reputation and popularity of the source: You should look for sources that have good reviews and ratings from other users and experts. You should also look for sources that have high traffic and r