An Introduction to Metaphysics (Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy) by Carroll (PDF)

Description

This book is an accessible introduction to the central themes of contemporary metaphysics. It carefully considers accounts of causation, freedom and determinism, laws of nature, personal identity, mental states, time, material objects, and properties, while inviting students to reflect on metaphysical problems. The philosophical questions discussed include: What makes it the case that one event causes another event? What are material objects? Given that material objects exist, do such things as properties exist? What makes it the case that a person may exist at two different times? An Introduction to Metaphysics makes these tough questions tractable by presenting the features and flaws of current attempts to answer them. Intended primarily for students taking a first class in metaphysics, this lucid and well-written text would also provide an excellent introduction for anyone interested in knowing more about this important area of philosophy.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐For those of you who are intimidated by the philosophical branch of Metaphysics, this is probably the best introductory book on Metaphysics for undergraduate philosophy students. I personally tried to buy and borrow some books on metaphysics, and unfortunately these books were either for graduate or advanced undergraduate students who are already familiar with the philosophical terminologies that most of us are not familiar with. I decided to download this book on Kindle to read it, and I do not regret it for one bit. It is written in a very clear and comprehensive manner in such a way that college student could understand it. It does involve some effort on the part of the reader to try to understand the book, but overall it is reader-friendly for beginners or amateurs. I also believe that the author of the book was able to present the problems in metaphysics in a interesting matter that would help beginners to appreciate the branch of Metaphysics. The use of analogies and concrete examples did help me understand the problem better. Overall, I would really recommend this book to anyone who is curious enough to understand what Metaphysics is.

⭐This book is used as a text by Macquarie University for their undergraduate unit in metaphysics and the consensus of the students appears to be that it could be better written. The overall structure is logical however the content of the individual chapters is often expressed poorly and, while the concepts are not in themselves difficult, the arguments can be unnecessarily difficult to follow. Even the lecturer said that he had difficulty following it and had to read certain sections several times over.

⭐This book fails to define words or concepts to me from the beginning well enough. However, It does attempt to boldly define metaphysics. I felt that the books spoke too much in philosophic jargon. There little sound reasoning that goes on, but there is a lot of leaving the issues undecided which was meant for us to decide, but there is not a single tool that helps to decide on the issues such as symbolic logic would be nice to have here.

⭐I found this book very appopriate for start to read metaphysics. It cover the most fundamental parts of Metaphysics and it do it at an undertandable level, suitable for beginners. I do not want to mean that this Is an eassy readable book all the way, but it is well written and all the topics are clearly exposed,

⭐My rating may be a bit misleading. When I received the book I read about halfway through the introduction and realized that this was not what I wanted. The book is high quality and for as far as I read, well written. My recommendation for anyone contemplating the purchase of this book is to read some of the introduction or review of the book very carefully, especially the statement for who the author intended the book for. Metaphylics is a vast subject and the title can be misleading. The book probably deserves a much better rating, and I’m sure it will get that when in the hands of one for whom the book is intended.

⭐This is a well written book for someone who wants to understand a little of what philosophers do. Not difficult to read.

⭐Good

⭐Kindle edition is a total mess! Page numbers are like that: p. 212 -214……And so is a percentage like: 51 % and on the next page 53% or something.It is most definitly NOT an Introduction for a complete newbe! Let us say, you have just finished reading about Ethics and you are to introduce yourself to Metaphisics ….. My advice look somewhere ELSE!Some topics are NOT explained well at all. And some text is too general……I was reading What is this thing called Philosophy , again and without it would be lost!

⭐I came to this book with great expectations after using an earlier book in this series. It is well produced, attractive type, nice paper and the chapter headings suggest a traditional overview of metaphysics as needed by the novice: it is, it claims, an “accessible introduction”. The blurb on the back claims that it is “well written”. I was disappointed. The book starts by telling us that metaphysics isn’t the study of the occult etc (does anyone buying it really need to be told that?) yet by page 13 the authors are demonstrating the notation of predicate logic. Many new to the subject might well give up at that point. The writing has a causal humourless folksiness that I found both irritating and condescending: things “seem a little worrisome”, “sure seems possible”, “we will work diligently..”, “we will not resist using”, “we will not make a big deal”, “it’s unlovely in a certain way’, considerations “stir up a whole lot of trouble”, “is a little easier to take”., “they are not oomphy enough”, “creates a little bit of a puzzle”, issues are a “thorn in the side”, and so on. People “holler”, problems “ignite”. The reader is told that s/he didn’t anticipate something, must “hold on”. There is lot of verbal packing and being told, for example, that something is getting interesting. Sentences start indirectly with phrases that add nothing: “it goes without saying that…”, “what happens in the case of interest here is that..”, “what’s simplistic is that…”, “the standard story here is…”. We’re told that an example “appears to throw this common assumption for loop” – whatever that means. You may like this style and find this sort of writing suits you, but I suspect that many readers will share my irritations, as well as the American examples like the dime in my pants (if you want to sell this elsewhere than the USA then choose examples that others might recognise). This isn’t well written in my view: it’s the sort of writing that gives philosophy a bad name and it isn’t necessary. (I turned to Richard Taylor’s ‘Metaphysics’ with relief). I thought I was being tough when I wrote this review, so set it aside for a year and returned to the book. But my opinion is unchanged. This could have been a welcome addition to an excellent series of books but it’s spoiled by lack of plain English. No-one thought that metaphysics would be easy, but it isn’t as hard as this.

⭐If I was wanting to quickly and efficiently construct a precis of the logical geography, of positions, proponents and gists of arguments on many standard metaphysical topics, or if I was wanting final revision material the night before an exam, then this is without doubt the book I would want to have handy. If, however, I wanted my hand held while being taken to the ledge from which to survey the abstruse domains wherein professional philosophers operated then I would choose Michael Loux’s

⭐Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction

⭐. However, I would add that Loux makes far more sense on a second reading having also read this book.To make it perfectly clear that any philosophy text, even introductions, must invariably be written from a personal perspective I would also recommend van Inwagen’s

⭐Metaphysics

⭐and Lowe’s

⭐A Survey of Metaphysics

⭐as presenting clear alternative accounts. Taking in introductions from multiple perspectives helps to loosen up one’s thinking and helps one to start to think critically for oneself about the topics addressed. At this stage one is then ready to really get one’s hands dirty with collections of essays and papers such as

⭐Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics

⭐.

⭐Carroll’s effort to produce a book that outlines the major themes without losing any relevance succeeds on both fronts. It is well written and neither condescending nor over simplified. Most importantly it is upto date and despite the word “introduction” it is far from being a primer. The section on causality is especially good.

⭐Very clear introduction to metaphysics. It doesn’t go into many details but provides a good big picture of the topic. Handy if you are an undergraduate student and want to have a clear idea of the basic concepts in this field.

⭐For laymen like myself who want to know more about philosophy and particularly metaphysics, this is a must read. Nicely-structured and with clear language, you will not be disappointed.

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