Best Metaphysics Books of 2025

The book "Reasons and Persons" challenges some of our deepest beliefs about rationality, morality, and personal identity. Parfit argues that our views on these topics are often flawed, and that it is rational to act against our own best interests. The book is praised for its scope, imaginative resource, and cogency of reasoning. It is an extraordinary contribution to philosophy that is destined to become part of the standard analytic repertory. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy of ethics and morality.

Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David J. Chalmers is a fascinating exploration of virtual reality and its implications for our understanding of reality. Chalmers argues that virtual worlds are not inferior to our own and that we may even be living in one already. Through the use of virtual reality technology, he offers new perspectives on classic philosophical questions. The book is well-written, cleverly illustrated, and packed with powerful arguments that make excellent use of both history and contemporary culture. It is a must-read for those interested in philosophy, science, and technology.

This new translation of Critique of Pure Reason is a game-changer for Kant scholars and new readers alike. The English translation is not only accurate but also sophisticated, capturing the interpretative nuances and richness of the original text. The supplementary materials provided make this volume an essential addition to any philosophy bookshelf. Paul Guyer and Allen Wood's work is likely to become the standard edition for scholars, replacing Norman Kemp Smith's translation. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in epistemology and philosophy, and its quality sets it apart from other translations.

The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory by David J. Chalmers is a thought-provoking analysis of the ongoing debate on consciousness. Chalmers introduces a new theory of consciousness that rejects the reductionist trend of science and offers a new perspective on the relationship between mind and brain. The author suggests that conscious experience should be understood as an irreducible entity, which exists at a fundamental level and cannot be understood as the sum of its parts. The book provides fascinating thought experiments that illustrate Chalmers' ideas. Overall, this book is a great read for anyone interested in philosophy of mind and cognitive science.

Scholastic Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction provides an in-depth overview of Scholastic approaches to fundamental metaphysics issues such as causation, substance, essence, modality, identity, persistence, and teleology. The book is written from a Thomistic perspective but also considers Scotist and Suarezian positions. Edward Feser has a complete command of the fundamental concepts of Scholastic metaphysics, and the book is excellently organized, treating its various topics with remarkable thoroughness and depth. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in metaphysics, the philosophy of nature, or the philosophy of mind.

The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the Art of Lingering by Byung-Chul Han is a thought-provoking book that reflects on the crisis of time in our hyperactive society. Han argues that our attachment to the vita activa is creating a temporal crisis that robs us of the capacity to contemplate and linger. Drawing on the works of Heidegger, Nietzsche, and Arendt, he suggests that we can overcome this crisis by revitalizing the vita contemplativa and relearning the art of lingering. This book is a unique contribution to the field of philosophy that challenges readers to rethink their relationship with time and the value they attach to productivity.

While Kant is commonly regarded as one of the most austere philosophers of all time, this book provides quite a different perspective of the founder of transcendental philosophy. Kant is often thought of as being boring, methodical, and humorless. Yet the thirty jokes and anecdotes collected and illustrated here for the first time reveal a man and a thinker who was deeply interested in how humor and laughter shape how we think, feel, and communicate with fellow human beings.. In addition to a foreword on Kant's theory of humor by Noël Carroll as well as Clewis's informative chapters, Kant's Humorous Writings contains new translations of Kant's jokes, quips, and anecdotes. Each of the thirty excerpts is illustrated and supplemented by historical commentaries which explain their significance.

The Production of Space by Henri Lefebvre is a highly anticipated philosophical work that explores the reconciliation between mental and physical space. Lefebvre's search for bridging the gap between theory and practice, philosophy and reality, is a remarkable feat that he accomplishes through his incisive and imaginative writing style. The book covers a range of topics, from art and literature to architecture and economics, making it an excellent resource for scholars across multiple fields. Overall, The Production of Space is a thought-provoking and insightful read that showcases Lefebvre's exceptional talent as a philosopher.

This edition of Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics: and the Letter to Marcus Herz, February 1772 (Hackett Classics) includes a letter from Immanuel Kant to Marcus Herz, in which he announces his readiness to present a critique of pure reason. Translated with an introduction and notes by James W Ellington, this book is a must-read for those interested in philosophy of ethics and morality books. The Hackett Publishing Co. brand has done an excellent job in presenting this significant document in a clear and accessible manner.

The book "Death (The Art of Living)" by Todd May explores the different ways people try to escape death and confronts the reality of our mortality. Drawing from the ideas of various philosophers and writers, May argues that we must hold two perspectives on death together to live with it. He suggests that the contingency of our lives must be embraced to live each moment fully. The book is a thought-provoking and wide-ranging example of popular philosophy, offering a unique perspective on how we can live our lives in view of the inevitability of death.