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Best resources to learnMetaphysics & Ontology

Study sheet

This topic investigates the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and being. You will analyze concepts such as time, space, causality, identity, and the relationship between mind and physical matter.

Where to start

Start with the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Metaphysics, free peer-reviewed articles that set out the standard positions on universals, time, free will and personal identity. If you only use one resource, make it the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Metaphysics, a survey from Aristotle to modern debates with links to entries on each sub-problem. Then read Aristotle's Metaphysics, the founding text of the discipline.

10 resources · · How we curate

🎓Courses(2)

course

Metaphysics Lectures

Explore metaphysics & ontology with Prof. Sadler's lectures! Understand being, reality, & fundamental concepts.

intermediate🇬🇧
course

History of Philosophy

The University of Edinburgh's fourteen-module survey, taught by nine researchers, covering epistemology, philosophy of science, mind, morality, political obligation, and free will. Students come away able to state each field's core problem and follow the standard arguments on both sides.

intermediate🇬🇧

📚Books(3)

bookPaid

Metaphysics

Aristotle's fourteen books on being qua being, substance, form and matter, potentiality and actuality, and the unmoved mover. The founding text of the discipline, and the source of most of the vocabulary later metaphysics argues with.

intermediate🇬🇧
bookPaid

Being and Time

Heidegger's 1927 attempt to reopen the question of the meaning of Being by analysing Dasein, the entity that questions its own existence. Introduces being-in-the-world, thrownness, care, and temporality. Dense, and best read alongside a commentary.

intermediate🇬🇧
bookPaid

Process and Reality

Whitehead's 1929 Gifford Lectures, setting out a metaphysics in which processes and events rather than enduring substances are fundamental. Builds a systematic vocabulary of actual occasions, prehensions, and eternal objects. Notoriously difficult and self-contained in its terminology.

intermediate🇬🇧

🌐Websites(5)

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website

PhilPapers - Metaphysics

A curated index of philosophy papers, books, and bibliographies in metaphysics, organized by subfield and maintained by academic editors. Use it to find current scholarship on topics such as modality, causation, and persistence, with many entries linking to open-access copies.

beginner🇬🇧
website

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Metaphysics

Peer-reviewed encyclopedia articles on metaphysical topics including universals, time, free will, and personal identity, written by academic specialists. The entries define the standard positions and arguments, giving enough grounding to read primary philosophical texts afterwards.

beginner🇬🇧
website

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Metaphysics

Peer-reviewed encyclopedia article surveying what metaphysics has meant since Aristotle, from the study of being as such to modern disputes over universals, modality, and causation. Includes a bibliography and links to entries on each sub-problem.

beginner🇬🇧
website

ontology.co

Ontology.co is a comprehensive online resource for ontology and metaphysics, offering articles, term glossaries, bibliographies, and curated links on key concepts, theories, and philosophers in the field.

intermediate🇬🇧
website

possibleworlds.org

Possibleworlds.org is a scholarly resource on possible worlds, modal logic, and related metaphysical topics. It offers introductory explanations, a glossary, bibliographies, and links to key papers, lectures, and courses for students and researchers.

intermediate🇬🇧
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Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start learning Metaphysics & Ontology?

Start with the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Metaphysics, free peer-reviewed articles that set out the standard positions on universals, time, free will and personal identity. If you only use one resource, make it the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Metaphysics, a survey from Aristotle to modern debates with links to entries on each sub-problem. Then read Aristotle's Metaphysics, the founding text of the discipline.

What are the best free resources to learn Metaphysics & Ontology?

Dantes has curated 10 resources for Metaphysics & Ontology, including 3 books, 2 courses, 5 websites. All resources are hand-picked for quality — no algorithmic filler. Browse the full list above to find the format that works best for you.

Is Metaphysics & Ontology hard to learn?

Metaphysics & Ontology is approachable at the beginner level — there are resources here specifically for those starting from scratch. As you progress, intermediate and advanced material is also available to take your skills further.

What types of Metaphysics & Ontology learning resources are available on Dantes?

For Metaphysics & Ontology, Dantes has curated 3 books, 2 courses, 5 websites. Each resource type serves a different learning style: videos and YouTube for visual learners, books for depth, courses for structured progression, and websites for quick reference.

How does Dantes select Metaphysics & Ontology resources?

Dantes is an algorithm-free learning directory. Resources are hand-curated based on quality, accuracy, and usefulness — not engagement metrics or paid placements. The goal is to surface the best learning material for Metaphysics & Ontology, whether it's a free YouTube series, a classic textbook, or an open courseware from a top university.

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