Metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics (pronunciation: /ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪks/) is a branch of philosophy that explores the fundamental nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between potentiality and actuality. The word "metaphysics" comes from two Greek words that, together, literally mean "after physics". The term was coined by a first century CE editor who used it to refer to a part of the works of Aristotle that was placed "after the physical ones" in his edition.
Etymology
The term "metaphysics" is derived from the Greek words meta (meaning "after") and physika (meaning "physics"). It was first used in the posthumous edition of Aristotle's works by Andronicus of Rhodes, who placed the books dealing with this subject matter after those on physics, hence the name "metaphysics".
Related Terms
- Ontology: The study of being and existence, it is a major branch of metaphysics.
- Epistemology: The study of knowledge and belief, it is closely related to metaphysics as it often depends on the nature of reality.
- Cosmology: The study of the universe as a whole, it is a part of metaphysics that deals with understanding the universe.
- Teleology: The study of purpose in natural phenomena, it is a part of metaphysics dealing with the purpose of entities and the notion of purpose in the universe.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Metaphysics
- Wikipedia's article - Metaphysics
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