Nasr/What is Metaphysics, 1. What Is the Meaning of Metaphysics and What Is Its Significance?

This chapter focuses on some of the key ideas and concepts that are necessary for understanding metaphysics as taught traditionally, especially in Islamic civilization. It exposits metaphysics as principial knowledge and as knowledge of Divine realities, and also explains religion and civilization’s dependence upon it. While making a fundamental distinction between sacred science and information or merely factual knowledge, this chapter also advances an argument in favor of integrating metaphysics both intellectually and existentially.