Metaphysics

Branch of philosophy exploring fundamental reality.

Metaphysical studies Metaphysical philosophy

A branch of philosophy that explores the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and the universe, including concepts such as being, time, causality, and the relationship between mind and matter.

Etymology

From Greek metapýsika, meaning 'after physics'.

Explain Like I’m 5

Metaphysics is like asking big questions about what's real, such as whether things exist even when we're not looking at them and what it means for something to be 'true'.

Fun Facts

Aristotle coined the term 'metaphysics' to describe works that came after his writings on physics
Many ancient philosophers, like Plato and Parmenides, contributed significantly to metaphysics
It continues to be a relevant field of study in contemporary philosophy

FAQ

What is metaphysics? It explores fundamental questions about reality
What does it study? It examines concepts like existence, time, space, and causality
Is metaphysics a science? No, it's a branch of philosophy that uses reason to explore these concepts

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

philosophy

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

ontology epistemology cosmology

Indexes

abstract philosophical theoretical

Built by Tim Jones