Meta (prefix)

Humoristic grafitti (cropped)

Meta (from the Greek preposition and prefix meta- (μετά-), meaning "after", "beyond", "with", "adjacent", "self") is a prefix used in English to indicate a concept which is an abstraction from another concept, used to complete or add to the latter. In epistemology and philosophy, "meta-" is used to mean about (its own category). For example, metadata is data about data (who has produced it, when, what format the data is in and so on). Similarly, metaphysics is not physics itself, but a study of the abstract concepts behind physics.

Usage in Various Disciplines

The prefix meta- is used in various fields with slightly different connotations, but generally, it denotes a higher level of abstraction or a self-referential perspective.

Philosophy

In philosophy, meta- often refers to the nature of something in a way that transcends its basic form or concept. Metaphysics, for instance, explores the fundamental nature of reality, beyond what is accessible through physical science.

Linguistics

In linguistics, the term metalinguistics refers to the study of language and its properties from a higher-level perspective, including how we talk about language and understand it as a system.

Computer Science

In computer science, metadata is data that provides information about other data. This can include descriptions of the contents, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data.

Mathematics

In mathematics, a metatheory is a theory about a theory. Examples include studies on the foundations of mathematics, such as logic and set theory, which provide the basic principles upon which mathematics is built.

Meta- in Popular Culture

The concept of meta- has also permeated popular culture, where it is often used to describe self-referential humor or storytelling. A "meta-joke," for example, is a joke about jokes.

See Also

• Metaknowledge
• Metaphor
• Metamathematics
• Metaphilosophy

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