[.ca] Metaphysics: The Big Questions (ISBN 063120587X)

More Modern than Historical:
This book was a little disappointing, but still pretty good for modern metaphysics. If you are wanting a modern compilation of essays on metaphysics then this text is 5 stars. If you are wanting an historical text, then you will be sorely disappointed (this is one of the reasons I gave this text 4 stars). Van Inwagen and Zimmerman have edited an edition which contains articles/essays from modern philosophers (with the one exception of Anselm and possibly David Hume) on certain metaphysical issues regarding time and space, the relationship between an individual and its characteristics, the relation between the mind/body, human volition (acting freely), causes and their effects, necessary being, etc. Authors of the various articles include Hillary Putnam, Richard Swinburne, William James, Charlotte Witt, William Rowe, A.N. Prior, Peter Geach, Roderick Chisholm, W.V.O. Quine, J. McTaggart, J.J.C. Smart, and many others. Just by this list one can see that this text has a strong bent toward analytic philosophy (which makes you wonder why the text is 'metaphysics'). However, some of the articles are quite interesting and are written by some very well known modern and contemporary philosophers. This text, while lacking any historical dealings/writings with/on the issues of metaphysics at least gives the reader a pretty good idea of what has been herald over the last hundred or so years. If you are wanting a more historical text, then move on, this one is not it. However, if you are wanting a contemporary/modern text on metaphysics, then this is the one for you!