Part 6/9:
Contemporary metaphysical inquiry extends beyond historical debates, as current philosophers, like Peter van Inwagen, pose fundamental questions:
What are the general features of the world and its constituents?
What is the nature of existence itself?
Why does the world exist, and specifically, why does it possess the properties it does?
What is our place within this world?
These profound inquiries illustrate the abstract nature of metaphysics, implying potential difficulties in finding conclusive answers. The 19th-century philosopher F.H. Bradley humorously expressed skepticism about metaphysical questions, remarking that metaphysics often leads to "the finding of bad reasons for what we believe on instinct."