Metaphysics In Western philosophy, metaphysics has become the study of the fundamental nature of all reality what is it,

, why is it, and how are we can understand it. Some treat metaphysics as the study of higher reality or the invisible nature behind everything, but that isnt true. It is, instead, the study of all of reality, visible and invisible; and what constitutes reality, natural and supernatural. Because most of the debates between atheists and theists involve disagreements over the nature of reality and the existence of anything supernatural, the debates are often disagreements over metaphysics. It is the branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of the world. It is the study of being or reality. It addresses questions such as: What is the nature of reality? Is there a God? What is man's place in the universe? Ancient and Medieval philosophers might have said that metaphysics was, like chemistry or astrology, to be defined by its subject matter: metaphysics was the science that studied being as such or the first causes of things or things that do not change. It is no longer possible to define metaphysics that way, and for two reasons. First, a philosopher who denied the existence of those things that had once been seen as constituting the subject-matter of metaphysicsfirst causes or unchanging thingswould now be considered to be making thereby a metaphysical assertion. Secondly, there are many philosophical problems that are now considered to be metaphysical problems (or at least partly metaphysical problems) that are in no way related to first causes or unchanging things; the problem of free will, for example, or the problem of the mental and the physical. Etymological Meaning The word "metaphysics" derives from the Greek words (met) ("beyond", "upon" or "after") and (physik) ("physics"). It was first used as the title for several of Aristotle's works, because they were usually anthologized after the works on physics in complete editions. The prefix meta- ("beyond") indicates that these works come "after" the chapters on physics. However, Aristotle himself did not call the subject of these books "Metaphysics": he referred to it as "first philosophy." The term metaphysics is derived from the Greek Ta Meta ta Physkia which means the books after the books on nature. When a librarian was cataloging Aristotles works, he did not have a title for the material he wanted to shelve after the material called nature (Physkia) so he called it after nature. Originally, this wasnt even a subject at all it was a collection of notes on different topics, but specifically topics removed from normal sense perception and empirical observation. Branches of Metaphysics:

Aristotles book on metaphysics was divided into three sections: ontology, theology, and universal science. Because of this, those are the three traditional branches of metaphysical inquiry. Ontology It is the study of existence: the definition of entities and classes of entities, such as physical or mental entities; the nature of the properties of entities; and the nature of change. It is the branch of philosophy which deals with the study of the nature of reality: what is it, how many realities are there, what are its properties, etc. The word i s derived from the Greek terms on, which means reality and logos, which means study of. Atheists generally believe that there is a single reality which is material and natural in nature.

Theology The study of a God or Gods; involves many topics, including among others the nature of religion and the world, existence of the divine, questions about Creation, and the numerous religious or spiritual issues that concern humankind in general. It is the study of gods does a god exist, what a god is, what a god wants, etc. Every religion has its own theology because its study of gods, if it includes any gods, will proceed from specific doctrines and traditions which vary from one religion to the next. Since atheists don't accept the existence of any gods, they don't accept that theology is the study of anything real. At most, it might be the study of what people think is real and atheist involvement in theology proceeds more from the perspective of a critical outsider rather than an involved member.

Universal Science It is a bit harder to understand, but it involves the search for first principles things like the origin of the universe, fundamental laws of logic and reasoning, etc. For theists, the answer to this is almost always "god" and, moreover, they tend to argue that there can be no other possible answer. Some even go far as to argue that the existence of things like logic and the universe constitute evidence of the existence of their god. An example of such a principle is the law of non-contradiction: A = A, A B, Not both A and B.

Implication of Metaphysics to Education Educational Idealism

Idealistic viewpoints are found in subjects such as fine arts, classic humanities, theology, philosophy, history and literature. These subjects emphasize intellectual processes and acuity of the mind. They form a major part of liberal arts curricula, which dwell on cultural concerns above those of a utilitarian nature. The implication in education holds that students will tend to choose classes that appeal to their intellects. Taken to an extreme, an idealist will not be attracted to sign up for a particular major course just to find a job to earn a living or be interested in any ambitious undertaking to acquire wealth and power. Educational Realism Realism has had a dominant effect in modern education. Its contribution to science and technology is enormous and is important in economic competition between the United States and countries of the world. Realists promote such subjects as mathematics, science and logic in which knowledge gained is essential in the objectivity of science. Any meaning in life is not permanent but becomes transient in the light of new knowledge. Contribution of Idealism to Education Idealism has had great influence in education. Study in the arts reveal a bit of ultimate reality and promotes the quality of life as no other area can. It draws attention to truths that do not change; through religious study, idealism can bring a meaning to existence on Earth that remains permanent. It addresses the reality of intangible things that are experienced but cannot be seen, such as, love, trust, hope and faith. Even though they may not be equally represented, both idealistic and realistic philosophies are generally recognized in school curricula. - man is distinct in kind - human nature is physically-spiritually assert - human nature is unchanging - human beings must remain free of external restraints in decision making the fundamental subjects of r's (read, write, reasoning, right conduct, arithmetic) - the curriculum designed to liberate the mind of man is superior to vocational and professional courses human must be free from invested interest