Metaphysics

This is the worst book on metaphysics that I have ever read. It is a work of theistic apologetics that promotes variations on the classical arguments in defense of theism, that do not hold up any better than the classical arguments.

Received book as promised. Book was listed as "used, but in new condition" and this was exactly correct. The book has no highlighting. Received book within one week.

This is a great introduction to problems of metaphysics and to philosophical thinking in general. I highly recommend it if you're new to philosophy or if you just want a refresher on some of the fundamentals. Richard Taylor is both clear and profound. He is one of the few contemporary philosophers who appreciates the value of living an examined life. I also recommend his book Good and Evil. Frankena's book Ethics is also a great short introduction.

For my money, Richard Taylor's "Metaphysics" is still the best short introduction to metaphysics for undergraduates or general readers. Taylor had a unique gift for explaining "heavy" philosophical topics -- God, fatalism, mind, time, causality -- in readable prose that met analytical standards but never mired the reader in a bog of technicalities and linguistic distinctions. The chapters on God and fatalism, in particular, are near-classic essays that have been widely discussed in the secondary literature and reprinted in anthologies. Taylor conveyed a sense of excitement about philosophy and taught readers that metaphysics is central to any thoughtful life. Maybe he got a bit carried away on this score -- to judge by a few statements in "Metaphysics," he took himself very seriously and believed that only philosophers can have meaningful lives. But these are minor annoyances and conceits in an otherwise outstanding book. There's a reason why it's gone through four editions and is still in print after more than 40 years! I've read the book three times and still find riches in it.

This book is excellent for getting a good grasp on some of the contemporary problems involved in metaphysics. He seems to take sides in the determinism section, but maintains the other side to a degree that keeps the problem (barely) alive. The text is straightforward and very readable.