Why study metaphysics?

[zhivago1974]

I love philosophy and have been studying it since I first went off to college. But I am sort of at a crisis point with it right now. Crisis is too strong a word, but my question is

“Why should we study, philosophy, especially metaphysics, at all?”

I mean I can understand the study of ethics (“ethical” questions come up all the time), the study of theology (we are concerned about our mortality and wonder if there is something ultimate in the world, that we are not alone), logic (the heart and mind of philosophy, indispensible tool), political philosophy (practical and metapractical questions about society come up all the time), and philosophy of science (relevant when science pushes to its limits, and need to undergird foundations of science).

But, what does the study of “being” and the study of “how we know what we know” really contribute anything to our lives, to knowledge in and of itself? What value is there to metaphysics in and of itself?

 

[Julia_Mae]

But, what does the study of “being” and the study of “how we know what we know” really contribute anything to our lives, to knowledge in and of itself? What value is there to metaphysics in and of itself?

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20110128_dec-rif-filosofia_en.html

(excerpted from DECREE ON THE REFORM OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES
OF PHILOSOPHY linked above)

Among the changes of the predominant culture, some particularly profound ones regard the concept of truth. In fact, there is often mistrust in the capacity of human intelligence to arrive at objective and universal truth I.1

In fact, philosophy “is directly concerned with asking the question of life’s meaning and sketching an answer to it.”[1] This question arises both from the wonder that man experiences in his encounter with others and with the cosmos, and from the painful and tragic experiences that assail his life.

“The metaphysical element is the path to be taken in order to move beyond the crisis pervading large sectors of philosophy at the moment, and thus to correct certain mistaken modes of behavior now widespread in our society.”[4] From this perspective, philosophers are invited energetically to reclaim philosophy’s “original vocation”:[5] the search for truth, and its sapiential and metaphysical characteristic. II. 3. (from Fides et ratio)

The sapiential characteristic of philosophy implies its “genuinely metaphysical range, capable, that is, of transcending empirical data in order to attain something absolute, ultimate and foundational in its search for truth” … In fact, metaphysics, i.e. first philosophy, deals with being and its attributes, and, in this way, raises itself up to the knowledge of spiritual realities, seeking the First Cause of all. II.4.

taking up what has been taught repeatedly by the Popes for several generations and reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council itself, I wish to reaffirm strongly the conviction that the human being can come to a unified and organic vision of knowledge Blessed John Paul II Fides et ratio III.5.

From a Christian perspective, truth cannot be separated from love. On the one hand, the defense and promotion of truth are an essential form of charity: “To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity.”[10] On the other hand, only truth permits true charity: “Truth is the light that gives meaning and value to charity.” III.6.

If you read the whole thing, I think it goes a long way toward answering your question.

 

[tonyrey]

A man living in abject poverty used to sit in the British Museum day after day for years, apparently wasting his time writing a metaphysical thesis… Two of his children died of malnutrition. Within a few decades his ideas had changed the world beyond recognition. His subject: dialectical materialism. His name: Karl Marx…

 

[Shike]

“Why should we study, philosophy, especially metaphysics, at all?”

One reason is because the questions metaphysics deals with are unavoidable. One will either do metaphysics explicitly or come to metaphysical conclusions implicitly. Doing it implicitly is not a good idea unless you have a reliable guide.

Another reason is because it all hangs together. So if you do theology or science your conclusions will rest upon metaphysical assumptions. It’s always good to know if your assumptions are correct.