metaphysics
The branch of philosophy which studies fundamental principles intended to describe or…The branch of philosophy which studies fundamental principles intended to describe or explain all that is, and which are not themselves explained by anything more fundamental; the study of first principles; the study of being insofar as it is being (Latin: ens in quantum ens).
» Mathematics is the only good metaphysics.
Meaning
6 senses(uncountable)The branch of philosophy which studies fundamental principles intended to describe or explain all that is, and which are not themselves explained by anything more fundamental; the study of first principles; the study of being insofar as it is being (Latin: ens in quantum ens).
Philosophers sometimes say that metaphysics is the study of the ultimate nature of the universe.
(countable)The view or theory of a particular philosopher or school of thinkers concerning the first principles which describe or explain all that is.
The metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas holds that all real beings have both essence and existence.
In Aristotelian metaphysics physical objects have both form and matter.
(broadly, uncountable)The metalogic of physics; the logical framework of physics.
(broadly, uncountable)Any fundamental principles or rules.
(uncountable)The study of a supersensual realm or of phenomena which transcend the physical world.
I have a collection of books on metaphysics, covering astral projection, reincarnation, and communication with spirits.
(derogatory, uncountable)Displeasingly abstruse, complex material on any subject.
This political polemic strikes me as a protracted piece of overwrought, fog-shrouded metaphysics!
- the philosophical study of being and knowing
Examples
6 sentencesMathematics is the only good metaphysics.
The exact meaning of metaphysics is controversial.
Religion is the metaphysics of the common people.
deReligion ist die Metaphysik des einfachen Volkes.
He studies metaphysics.
deEr studiert Metaphysik.
He's studying metaphysics.
deEr studiert Metaphysik.
Origin
1560s; plural of metaphysic, from Middle English methaphesik, methaphisik, methaphisique,1560s; plural of metaphysic, from Middle English methaphesik, methaphisik, methaphisique, metaphesyk, methafisik, metaphesyk, methephysyk, from Old French metafisique, methaphisique and Medieval Latin metaphysica, methephisica, from Byzantine Greek μεταφυσικά (metaphusiká), from the title of the collection by Aristotle μετὰ τὰ φυσικά (metà tà phusiká, “Following The Natural World”), a collection that comes after (μετά (metá)) Aristotle's collection entitled τὰ φυσικά (tà phusiká, “The Natural World”), from φυσικός (phusikós, “natural”). By surface analysis, meta- + physics.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: metaphysics| Singular | metaphysics |
|---|---|
| Plural | metaphysics |
irregular
Word family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable