European Journal of Science and Theology, February 2013, Vol.9, Supplement 1, 17-27 _______________________________________________________________________ THE METAPHYSICS OF ADDICTION Vasile Chira * ‘Lucian Blaga’ University, no.10, Victoriei BLVD, 55002, Sibiu, Romania (Received 12 November 2012, revised 7 December 2012) Abstract In the present study, I tried to argue the fact that the aetiological polymorphism of addiction demands a multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approach that will take into consideration not only data from Neurology, Sociology, Pedagogy, Chemistry, etc., but also the data from Philosophy and Theology. Such an approach is the more necessary as the genesis of addiction also involves reasons of a metaphysical order. The more profound cause of addictive behaviour is the distancing from the ontological source. This makes us dependent to things, phenomena or states that are only its surrogates as a reversed thirst of infinity is consumed through addiction. Anxiety, the interior void, the lack of sense, absurdity, the neurosis, the decrease of will, different psychotic forms are only consequences of the altered relationship with the ontological source. Keywords: psychoactive substance, soteriological act, anthropology, patristic, transcendence 1. Introduction The exacerbation of the addictive phenomenon is to a great extent the consequence of losing the ultimate meaning, of the removal of the postmodern man from the ontological source, of the ethical tolerance and of the hedonistic spirit, realities specific to the times we are just traversing. The causes responsible for the excess pathology and actually, for the chronic forms of addiction are generally known to any psychologist and psychiatrist who has a minimal clinical experience. The metaphysical dimension of dependence is one of the less talked about. Any discourse concerning the phenomenology and therapy of addiction should take into account the fact that human beings is structurally, ontologically ill. This is on the one hand. On the other hand, the contemporary man, living in a world devoid of meaning, stripped of the vocation of belief in a transcendental court capable of ensuring him a soteriological horizon, searches for substitutes of the ontological source in the immanent realm. Unfortunately, contemporary psychology treats man as a machine of flesh and blood, like a cognitive robot, without taking into account the metaphysical, spiritual and noetic bearings that actually confers its essence. * E-mail: vasilechira@gmail.com