Metaphysics: A Very Short Introduction
by Stephen Mumford published by Oxford University Press, 2012.
Are you a Materialist?
Are you a follower of Hume? Do you
believe that the empirical observation is the only right way to do
the science?
If the answer to the above questions is
YES then this book is not for you. Do not read it. If you do then you
will not like to give good comments on it. You may come up with such
comments that the Metaphyscist would smile at your stupidity if even
you are a science expert.
I bought this book because I have read
a book on Hermeneutics in the same series. It is a cheaper than that
book. Secondly, I thought that Metaphysics deals with soul, spirit,
God, esoteric science, will power etc. I wanted to have an expert
view on it. I searched for Stephen Mumford. I found that he is in
service teacher (presently on resarch leave). I bought it.
I read it and found that I did not have
the right understanding of this topic. I got some glimpse of the
actual meaning of the subject. I believe that I have done an actual
metaphysics.
I definitely exercised a big level of
perseverance, continuity and consistency in reading this book. However, I can not say that
I have understood everything. I want to accept that many a times I
pretended to have understood but in reality I did not gather much.
However, wherever I was able to sustain good understanding and
continuity, it had definitely refined my ability to exercise my
thoughts.
The chapter making is very fascinating.
The first chapter is "What is an
Introduction?" I am unable to decide to which side or to whom
this question is directed.
In the chapter there is no clear cut
definition of Metaphysics. One may imagine after reading
the chapter that the writer is making you comfortable with the topic
and it is his way of encouraging you to seek a glimpse of the
subject. One may believe that he will give something substantial in
the next chapter.
I also approached the next chapter with
some expectation. But the title of the chapter was "What is a
Table?" Well, as far I am concerned, I have never asked this
question to myself or to someone. I take it granted that everyone
knows that what is a table. But, when I ended the reading, which I
was able to do without knowing anything about Metaphysics, I stopped paused to think and evaluate to know my gain in knowledge. After some
efforts I learned that I have learned about the particular and
properties concepts. But I failed to understand the idea of red
colour snooker balls. I am definitely going to read this small book
once again.
The story did not end here. The next
question or the chapter is, "What is a Circle". Well, that
is one question which one may come across in the classroom of
mathematics teacher once in his life time. However, I did not learn
any thing about pie or any calculation about the circle, but whatever
I was made to think and perceive about circle was definitely
something new. The writer took hold of the movement of my thought process and
then juggled it. Then came the topics on change, cause, time, person,
and possible. These were things which I knew earlier but after
reading them, I came to know that I could know them in a better way.
However, in the case of some chapters, I was not able to sustain my
attention and comprehension. I pretended to understand them but I was
not clear on what I had read. There was no technical jargon, no Latin
or Grecian words but even then I failed to make a coherent sense out
of them. It became more apparent in the chapter Nothing Something. I
accept that I have never thought in that manner.
The last chapter begins with the topic
What is Metaphysics? Can you get a sense out of it?
The chapter What is Metaphysics could have been the first chapter. However, it is the last chapter. Secondly, in this chapter, again you do not get any definition of Metaphysics. The only phrase which I can remember is that it is a acrobatics of Thoughts. The writer has given the scope and range of the subject of Metaphysics. But, I am not able to identify any statement which can be used to say that this is Metaphysics. However, there is an uncanny feeling that I may not have found the definition of Metaphysics but I have worked and thought like a Metaphysicist.
The chapter What is Metaphysics could have been the first chapter. However, it is the last chapter. Secondly, in this chapter, again you do not get any definition of Metaphysics. The only phrase which I can remember is that it is a acrobatics of Thoughts. The writer has given the scope and range of the subject of Metaphysics. But, I am not able to identify any statement which can be used to say that this is Metaphysics. However, there is an uncanny feeling that I may not have found the definition of Metaphysics but I have worked and thought like a Metaphysicist.
I am ready to read this book once
again.
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