This book presents an outline of classical metaphysics, built on an examination of the five basic concepts of form, substance, existence, cause and nature, together with an answer to the question "What are nominalism, idealism and realism?"
It draws on the whole tradition of philosophy, from the ancients to contemporary writers. It gives considerable attention to the criticisms of Hume and Kant, and also to modern natural science, showing how questions of physics lead to metaphysics. It provides a simple explanation of Kant's basic philosophy, which may be useful to students, concludes with a brief chapter on the relevance of metaphysics for ethics, and supplies an appendix on time.
Father Selman presents a realist metaphysics, and so meets the call of the present Pope for a return to metaphysics as a foundation for teaching theology. The book is especially aimed at students who need to know philosophy for theology, but is also for anyone looking for a philosophy that is helpful for understanding the Catholic Faith. It restores the view that philosophy is primarily meant to be wisdom, and that the highest end of human life is to come to know the First Truth.
Father Francis Selman is a priest of the Diocese of East Anglia. He read classics and theology at Trinity College, Oxford, and prepared for the priesthood at Innsbruck. He now teaches at Allen Hall, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Westminster, and at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. He has also taught at King's College, London. He is the author of St. Thomas Aquinas (T. & T. Clark, 1994). His doctoral thesis on the Soul for the University of Cambridge will be published soon by The Saint Austin Press.
From Physics to Metaphysics, by Fr. Francis J. Selman.
120 pages, paperback. ISBN 1 901157 33 4.
£9.95 ; $16.95 in the U.S.A.
Published by The Saint Austin Press.
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