summary of Metaphysics: An Introduction by Alyssa Ney:

Alyssa Ney’s Metaphysics: An Introduction is a clear, accessible, and systematic guide to one of philosophy’s most fundamental branches, designed both for students new to the subject and for readers looking to deepen their understanding of metaphysical issues. Ney introduces metaphysics as the study of the most basic features of reality—what exists, what it means for something to exist, and how the different aspects of reality relate to one another. The book surveys central topics such as the nature of time, persistence and identity, possible worlds, causation, laws of nature, free will, properties, numbers, and the structure of reality itself. Each chapter introduces the central problems and competing positions, carefully reconstructing key arguments while encouraging readers to critically engage with them. Ney places special emphasis on the relationship between metaphysics and science, showing how developments in physics, for example relativity and quantum mechanics, influence metaphysical debates about time, determinism, or the nature of objects. She balances historical perspectives with contemporary analytic philosophy, making abstract debates—like whether universals exist, whether reality is fundamentally material, or whether persons persist through time—accessible through concrete examples and thought experiments. The text also foregrounds methodological questions: what tools and methods metaphysicians use, whether metaphysics is continuous with science or stands apart, and whether metaphysical inquiry uncovers truths about the world or simply maps our conceptual schemes. Importantly, Ney writes in a way that highlights not just positions but the reasoning behind them, helping readers to see how arguments are built, challenged, and defended. Ultimately, Metaphysics: An Introduction provides both a roadmap to the discipline’s core questions and a training ground for philosophical thinking, giving readers the skills and orientation to explore metaphysics further on their own.