Metaphysics

From Objectivism Wiki
Revision as of 05:04, 7 July 2005 by 66.44.0.112 (talk)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

“Metaphysics is that branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the universe as a whole.” (OPAR, p.3)

All of Objectivism rests on Objectivist metaphysics The key tenets of the Objectivist metaphysics are (1) the Primacy of Existence, (2) the Law of Identity (Aristotle's "A is A"), and (3) the Axiom of Consciousness. In addition, (4) the Law of Causality is a corollary of the Law of Identity. The Primacy of Existence states that reality (the universe, that which is) exists independently of human consciousness. The Law of Identity states that anything that exists is qualitatively determinate, that is, has a fixed, finite nature. The Axiom of Self-Consciousness is the proposition that one is conscious. The Law of Causality states that things act in accordance with their natures. These propositions are all held in Objectivism to be axiomatic. According to Objectivism, the proof of a proposition's being axiomatic is that it is both (a) self-evident and (b) cannot coherently be denied, because any argument against the proposition would have to suppose its truth.

Metaphysics includes those basic facts about reality which one must understand before one can learn Epistemology:

Somethings exist, including the things I perceive.

Everything is something specific and acts according to its nature.

I am conscious of the things I perceive and my perceptions reflect reality.

Possible references:

  • ITOE: Chapter 6
  • FNI: 124-125, 154-155
  • PWNI: “The Metaphysical versus the Man-Made”
  • OPAR: Chapter 1