形上學是對事物本質的研究。本課程將會探討以下課題：

1. 何謂形上學？
2. 形上學與自然科學的關係為何？
3. 物件如何組合出其他物件？
4. 物件與其組件的關係為何？
5. 物質除了其運動以外，有其內在的、根本的性質嗎？
6. 如有，我們能夠認識那些內在性質嗎？
7. 物質所遵從的物理法則是必然還是偶然的？
8. 如何理解一些物質運動？

本系有幸邀得Monash University榮休教授John Bigelow前來訪問，Bigelow教授為澳洲國家院士、澳亞哲學學會前主席，以及國際著名形上學家。屆時Bigelow教授將任教於本課程第10、11週；此外，同學亦將於第9週被帶領參加Bigelow教授於本校學術會議《Doing Philosophy in a Natural World》的演講。（演講將於該週上課時間進行。）

Metaphysics is the study of the fundamental nature of reality. This course will cover the following topics:

1. What is metaphysics?
2. What in the relationship between metaphysics and science?
3. How do objects combine into a further object?
4. What the relationship between objects and their components?
5. Apart from its motions, does matter have a fundamental, intrinsic nature?
6. If yes, can we know of any such nature?
7. Are the physical laws which govern matter necessary or contingent?
8. How to understand certain activities of matter?

It is also our department’s great honour to have Emeritus Professor John Bigelow from Monash University visiting us. Professor Bigelow is an internationally renowned metaphysician, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, and a Past President of the Australasian Association of Philosophy. He will be giving two guest lectures in this course in Week 10 and 11. In addition to that, students will be led to Professor Bigelow’s keynote talk in the academic conference organized by NTU, ‘Doing Philosophy in a Natural World’, in Week 9.