Ask yourself some questions
A note about metaphysics
What is the meaning of life?
What is my purpose?
What is God?
What is reality?
Why am I here?
How did I get here?
Who and what am I?
What will happen when I die?
Metaphysics isn't actually physics.
This is a Greek word meaning 'after natural things' and was likely coined by Andronicus of Roads.
What comes after the study of nature?
The philosophy of metaphysics can be traced
back to Aristotle
He addressed the concept in his 14 volume book, and each book is usually named after consecutive letters of the Greek alphabet
Some debate about the origins of the book and what Aristotle meant in his writing
Essentially, his books discuss what it is to exist,
so we can define metaphysics as the study of
being and described such subject matter as 'first philosophy'
This may tell us why it is often associated with
mysticism, religion, meditation, the laws of the universe etc.
What is metaphysics?
The branch of philosophy that examines the true nature of reality, whether visible or invisible
consider relationships among mind and matter, substance and attribute, and fact and value
Also consider religion, spirituality, mysticism etc. How can these things be explored and understood?
Some development of metaphysics
Question everything around
you.
Metaphysics seems to heavily question the perceptions of the universe that we have. Are they correct or malformed?
Are dream objects real in the same as chairs and trees are? Are numbers real or merely abstractions? Is the height of mankind a reality or is it part of something more concrete? Is it a mere quality that lacks substantial meaning?
Arose around the time of the Elizabethan era
There was a greater focus on nature, love, and philosophy.
Metaphysical poets looked beyond the obvious.
Transcendentalism followed after metaphysics and showed some similarities in concepts
works cited
Death be not proud,
though some have called thee
DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, 5
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, 10
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
CRAIG, EDWARD (1998). Metaphysics. In E. Craig (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Routledge. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/N095
Pinka, Patricia Garland. "John Donne (English Poet)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
"Metaphysics Introduction." Metaphysics Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Inwagen, Peter Van. "Metaphysics." Stanford University. Stanford University, 10 Sept. 2007. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Cohen, S. Marc, "Aristotle's Metaphysics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2014 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2014/entries/aristotle-metaphysics/>.
transcendentalism
Donne's poetic style
Metaphysical poetry employs unusual forms, complex figures of speech applied to metaphorical conceits, and learned themes discussed according to unexpected chains of reasoning.
Donne's poems are very bizarre, and he tends to contradict himself. He's described love as being a carnivorous fish and that one can make god pure by raping him.
He was a religious poet and an erotic one. He often tried to merge the two together, and this fits well with the nature of his poems
all people have equal knowledge about themselves and the world around them that goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel.
Celebrated individualism and self reliance
Emerson believed that people were naturally good and had limitless potential
People should trust themselves as being there own
authority on what is right, and this is not from a religious sense
Some criticized organized religion. Think of Nathaniel Hawthorne. He was a member of the transcendental
club
Think back to questions that metaphysics revolves around
Later on in John Donne's
life.
Metaphysical poetry
Some metaphysical poets include George
Herbert, Andrew Marvell, and Henry Vaughn,
and John Donne
They used a poetic style in which philosophical and spiritual subjects were approached with reason. The poem would then end with paradox.
His life continued to be filled with hardships with strong emotional effects. He had financial troubles, couldn't find a job, and five of his twelve children died.
Donne was installed as dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1621.
His wife later died while giving birth to a stillborn child. This put him back into grief
Still, during this time he was a prolific writer and produced many metaphysical pieces of of writing.
Then he got sick for the last 10 years of his life
and died.
John Donne's earlier
life
He was born to a Catholic Family in 1572 during a time of great oppression against Catholics. His brother was even convicted for Catholic loyalties and died in prison.
At age 11, he entered Oxford University and possibly studied a Cambridge. he received no degree due to his religious beliefs; as a Roman Catholic he could not swear the required oath of allegiance to the Protestant queen, Elizabeth.
Later in his life, he succumbed to religious pressure and joined the Anglican church.
He met and fell in love with a woman named Anne Morem, the sixteen year old niece of Lady Egerton. Later, they secretly married. Unfortunately, Anne's father, Sir George, didn't really like this, so he briefly imprisoned Donne.
The marriage ultimately dashed away any careers in public service, and Donne went on to live in poverty