Full Idea
The central task of metaphysics is to chart the possibilities of existence by identifying the categories of being and the relations of ontological dependency in which beings of different categories stand to one another.
Gist of Idea
Metaphysics aims to identify categories of being, and show their interdependency
Source
E.J. Lowe (Two Notions of Being: Entity and Essence [2008], Intro)
Book Reference
'Being: Developments in Contemporary Metaphysics', ed/tr. Le Poidevin,R [CUP 2008], p.23
A Reaction
I am beginning to think that he is right about the second one, and that dependency and grounding relations are the name of the game. I don't have Lowe's confidence that philosophers can parcel up reality in neat and true ways.