Course code: BMA-LOTD17-105.01, BMI-LOTD-105E	
Course title: Contemporary Metaphysics	
Lecturer: Zsuzsanna Balogh 	

Pre-requisites: None	
Grading:
You will write an exam essay at the end of the course. You will have to answer three, previously undisclosed topics which were covered in the course. Your answer should include a description of the problem/subject and the main views we discussed. Active participation in class may improve your final grade.	
Requirements: 
You should read the items on your reading list in preparation for class.	

Syllabus:
The course aims at giving students an introduction into the subject. We will discuss the place it plays within the larger subject of philosophy and its main topics, views and lines of arguments.
By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the main topics of metaphysics, will be able to develop a critical view of topics and understand and explain the different standpoints and decide on the basis of these which ones they agree and which ones they disagree with and why.
This course does not discuss the specific topics at particular length but the aim is to raise students’ interest in further exploring one or more topics.
Successful completion of the course will equip you with the following skills and knowledge:
•	Basic knowledge of the subject of metaphysics as a discipline of philosophy
•	Recognising and describing the different topics of metaphysics
•	Familiarity with the main topics and the abstract concepts and theories included therein
•	Understanding and reconstructing the different standpoints concerning a particular topic
•	Gaining a deeper interest in specific topics and preparing for exploring these	

Specific topics (one topic will arch over more than one class) and suggested literature:
1.  What is metaphysics? 
Van Inwagen, Peter (1998) Introduction: What is Metaphysics?, in Peter van Inwagen – Dean W. Zimmerman (eds.) Metaphysics: The Big Questions, Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1–13.
2. The problem of universals
Lowe, E.J. (2002): Realism versus Nominalism, in A Survey of Metaphysics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 347-362.
3. Physical objects

Crane, Tim and Farkas, Katalin (2004) 'Being. Introduction', in Tim Crane and Katalin Farkas (eds.) Metaphysics, A Guide and Anthology, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 137-48.

4. Temporal existence of physical objects

Hawley, Katherine (2004) 'Temporal Parts', in Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/temporal-parts/

5. Personal identity

Olson, Eric T., (2015) ‘Personal Identity’, in Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-personal/ 

6. Body and mind

Crane, Tim – Farkas, Katalin (2004) Mind and Body, Introduction, in Tim Crane – Katalin Farkas (eds.) Metaphysics. A Guide and Anthology, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 601–610 

7. Mental causation

Robb, D. and Hail, J. (2013) ‘Mental Causation’, in Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mental-causation/ 
General Literature:
Loux, Michael J. (ed.) (2008). Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings. Routledge.
Lowe, Jonathan E. (2002) A Survey of Metaphysics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
A good start to explore topics:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/metaphysics/ (plus the specific entries related to the above topics on the Stanford Encyclopaedia)