Metaphysics, Society, and the State: Key Concepts

Characteristics of Metaphysics

Metaphysics is always a knowledge of principles. It aims to analyze the first principles of reality, those from which all others are derived and that allow us to understand what we mean when something *is*. It has a character that lies in analyzing reality and trying to find what constitutes the being of concrete things. It allows you to exercise a kind of radical critique that never stops.

Metaphysics Has a Claim to Totality

It seeks to overcome the differences of particular things. It is not content with partial solutions or with a limited specialty. It wants to analyze all of reality to find its meaning. It flows into a particular world picture, which explains what is considered real.

Metaphysics Considers Human Reality a Fundamental Reference

All the problems we analyze have the universe of human beings as a reference. In trying to understand reality, the human being seeks to understand himself, seeks to make sense of their reality and existence.

Society

Society is a group of people participating in a common culture. Where a society has independent legal, administrative, and political bodies, then we have a state.

The State

Historically, there have been two concepts of the state:

1. The state is equal to the monopolization or centralization of powers. We can distinguish between rulers and ruled. From this point of view, the state has always existed.
2. The state arises from the Renaissance. It has four characteristics:
   1. Coercive political unitary order.
   2. Power (army and police) to ensure compliance with that order.
   3. Bureaucracy able to manage public resources.
   4. Treasury that collects taxes.

Contractarian Theories

Thesis

Individuals are prior to the state and, moreover, have full freedom and are full of natural rights. The state is constructed from individuals under a pact between them. Therefore, there is no more reality than individuals, and it is now the state that becomes an abstraction. This is an individualistic conception of the state.

The natural thing is no longer to live in a primitive state of nature; it is the isolation of individuals or a stateless society. Consequently, the state has no other goal than the protection of freedom and/or the safety of individuals.