Write a reflection essay on the recent lesson/s that we had, using the following questions as guide:

1. Do you think metaphysics is still relevant in today’s age? Why and/or why not?
2. Between the rationalists and the empiricists, who do you agree with and why?
3. Do you believe that science is able to answer the question regarding the nature of consciousness? Why
and/or why not?

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract
concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space. An example of metaphysics is a study
of God versus the Big Bang theory.

Is metaphysics still relevant in today’s age? Yes, it is because people never stop wondering and question
things. People are unendingly asking things especially essential questions about life. Therefore, metaphysics
(philosophy) is relevant in today’s age not only because it tells us how to think, but also what is important to think
about in life. And also, Metaphysics as the academic activity of creating these useful kinds of theories is still quite
relevant today. That is to say, metaphysics is an area of academic study.

Branches of philosophy include Rationalism and Empiricism. Rationalism is the view that regards reason
as the chief source and test of knowledge. Holding that reality itself has an inherently logical structure, the
rationalist asserts that a class of truths exists that the intellect can grasp directly. The principle or habit of accepting
reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct. Rationalists believed the doctrine that
reason alone is a source of knowledge and is independent of experience. Empiricism is a theory that states that
knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. It is one of several views of epistemology, along with
rationalism and skepticism. Empiricism emphasizes the role of empirical evidence in the formation of ideas, rather
than innate ideas or traditions. Empiricists share the view that there is no such thing as innate knowledge, and that
instead knowledge is derived from experience (either sensed via the five senses or reasoned via the brain or mind).
Between the different beliefs of the rationalists and empiricists, I agree with the beliefs and ideas of the Empiricists.
Why? because for me knowledge is gained from experiences. As John Locke said (the human) mind is like a “tabula
rasa” which means it is just like a blank sheet of paper, nothing on it if you won’t fill it. Let say that it is the same
with this thought/example of “if we want something then work for it for you to gain it”. Another example is that
when you read a book you can get information but if not you can’t have the information of what is the book all
about. Those examples are some of the situations that I experienced personally. With this experience, I can conclude
that knowledge is gained by experiences.

Science is one of the most important channels of knowledge. It has a specific role, as well as a variety of
functions for the benefit of our society: creating new knowledge, improving education, and increasing the quality of
our lives and etc. But as of now, there is one of the things that science can’t explain or answer the question which is
regarding the nature of consciousness. For me, the reason why it is not answerable or explainable by science is
that only God knows as it was said that “God knows everything”.