Metaphysics: Intro
"The more I learn physics, the more I am drawn to metaphysics." Albert Einstein
This introductory course helps us to appreciate metaphysics, starting from physics. Before going to meta [after or beyond], we spend some time at the physical level, to understand the complexity of the physical world.
The attached material is compulsory reading. Other materials will be suggested as we proceed. Best wishes!
Questions for Metaphysics 1
1. What is physics (science) and metaphysics (religion)? Give the relationship between them.
2. Elaborate on the historical relationship between science and religion.
3. Who (and by which book) introduced the “Conflict Thesis” into the history of SRD?
4. Did Galileo revolt against the Church? Was he a devout Catholic till the end?
5. How do you distinguish the methods used between Science and Religion?
6. What are the primary methods used in science?
7. What are the primary methods used in religion?
8. Explain the models of SRD as described by Ian Barbour?
9. Explain the models of SRD as described by John Haught?
10. Explain the models of SRD as described by Job Kozhamthadam?
11. What is creative evolution?
12. What is transhumanism? Give its
13. Give the significance of cyborgs?
14. Give two living proponents of transhumanism?
15. What is your critique of transhumanism (especially their claim of attaining physical immortality)?
16. What is technological singularity?
17. Give the difference between AI and IA?
18. How will you define singularity?
19. Which are the four singularities that we can trace?
20. What is neuroscience and how is related to the future technology?
21. What is the relationship between neuroscience and mystical experience?
22. Please formulate a new spirituality based on modern science.
23. How do you move from physics to metaphysics? Or What is the relationship between physics and metaphysics?
24. “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” Comment.
25. “I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics. ~ Richard Feynman. Or "If you think you understand quantum mechanics then you don't understand quantum mechanics"? Richard Feynman