Metaphysics (Revelation, experience, faith, God, philosophy)

[Jaiket]

What are the grounds for justifying other realities? How does a pluralist (or monist for that matter) support his or her propositions about substances? How does a person discover the supernatural?

[Radio Frequency X]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

What are the grounds for justifying other realities?

As a materialist, I don't believe in "other realities" but metaphysics, as far as the understanding of the nature of reality is concerned, can be explained by science. The real interesting questions arise from epistemology and the question of how knowledge is understood.

Originally Posted by Jaiket

How does a pluralist (or monist for that matter) support his or her propositions about substances? How does a person discover the supernatural?

Most metaphysics depend on Plato's "rationalism" or "dualism" and the idea that there is the imperfect reality that we see and the perfect reality that we don't see. The perfect reality can only be understood in the way of Forms in the mind. St. Augustine picked this up in his theories on reality, arguing that knowledge comes through divine revelation. Thus, the only way to discover the supernatural is to have it revealed to you by God.

However, if God is a function of that which It corresponds to, as I would argue it is, then God Himself is a Form. So how can one Form reveal another form, and how would we know which form was greater? Anslem would argue that the Form of God is that Form than which no other form is greater. The most perfect form. Sorry, getting off tract here.

So long as people believe in dualism, they can believe in realities of which they have no objective or verifiable experience. This allows them to place faith in whatever "truths" they imagine to exist, as long as it is consistent with all the other imagined truths. Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is an excellent example of how to create a perfectly consistent system of metaphysical thought. It explains absolutely nothing of use, but it explains itself, which is the best we can expect from any dualistic metaphysics.

[robtex]

[quote=Radio Frequency X" but metaphysics, as far as the understanding of the nature of reality is concerned, can be explained by science.[/quote]

that is incorrect. Metaphysics literally means beyond physics. It is a field of philosophy that asserts that there are componets to reality that cannot be measured by science or man but must be taken on faith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics
http://www.answers.com/topic/metaphysics

[Radio Frequency X]

Originally Posted by robtex

that is incorrect. Metaphysics literally means beyond physics. It is a field of philosophy that asserts that there are componets to reality that cannot be measured by science or man but must be taken on faith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics
http://www.answers.com/topic/metaphysics

Actually, it means after physics. As in, after Aristotle's Physics. The dominance of dualism in searching for the essence of reality outside of nature is simply an unfortunate reality. However, if you believe in materialism, science is the only way to study the essence of reality.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

Most metaphysics depend on Plato's "rationalism" or "dualism"...

So Plato would be a good start if I wanted to know what this stuff is all about?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

So Plato would be a good start if I wanted to know what this stuff is all about?

This is a good start: The Importance of Philosophy.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by robtex

that is incorrect. Metaphysics literally means beyond physics. It is a field of philosophy that asserts that there are componets to reality that cannot be measured by science or man but must be taken on faith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics
http://www.answers.com/topic/metaphysics

I'll quote from the link you posted:

More recently, the term "metaphysics" has also been used to refer to "subjects which are beyond the physical world". A "metaphysical bookstore," for instance, is not one that sells books on ontology, but rather one that sells books on spirits, faith healing, crystal power, occultism, and other such topics. This meaning is not recognized in academic philosophy.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Willamena

This is a good start:

Thank you very much.