Metaphysics — Literally, “what comes after physics” (title given by Andronicus of Rhodes to Aristotle’s writings). It is the study of being as being, of first causes, and of the fundamental principles of reality. Metaphysical questions: What exists? What is substance? What are time and space? Does God exist? Kant criticizes dogmatic metaphysics: pure reason cannot know what transcends possible experience. Heidegger proposes a “destruction” of metaphysics to recover the originary question of being.


Glossary