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The response by Wayfarer to a SE philosophy question illustrates something I have difficulty with: This suggests that there is a metaphysical reality - a summum bonum or true good - that provides a foundation for ethics, which would be at odds with naturalism's overall rejection of supernatural or transcendent realities. In this quote, metaphysics and supernaturalism are somehow equated. Additionally, I have difficulties distinguishing between the mindset of idealism (the idea that there is a realm of ideas different from the realm of matter) and the mindset of supernaturalism. What is the difference between metaphysics, supernaturalism, and idealism?

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Final answer:

Metaphysics is the study of the fundamental nature of all reality, supernaturalism posits the existence of non-natural realms or beings, and idealism suggests that the mind or ideas constitute the primary reality, impacting different ethical frameworks and their grounds for what is considered good or valuable.

Step-by-step explanation:

The questions regarding metaphysics, supernaturalism, and idealism delve deep into the foundational considerations of philosophy and ethics. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature of reality, seeking to understand all that is real, whether visible or invisible. It strives for a description that is so fundamentally basic and all-inclusive that it applies to everything.

Supernaturalism, on the other hand, posits the existence of realms or beings beyond the natural world as we understand it. This view accepts that there can be realities that are above or beyond the physical universe observed and explained by natural science. Traditional supernaturalist perspectives have often been intertwined with religion and theism, proposing that there are divine or spiritual aspects to reality.

Idealism is a philosophical viewpoint that suggests that reality is mentally constructed or otherwise immaterial. It posits that the 'realm of ideas' or consciousness is the primary or sole reality, and that the material world is either non-existent or a derivative of the mind's perceptions.

Understanding these different philosophical perspectives helps frame ethical discussions, as different ethical frameworks often rest on different metaphysical assumptions. Where one places value, how one defines what is good, and whether morals have an objective grounding or are purely subjective are central to discussions on metaethics and the ontology of value. Realism in ethics, for instance, aligns with the belief that moral values have some basis in reality, while anti-realism relies on subjective beliefs and desires.

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