metaphysics
/ˌmɛtəˈfɪz.ɪks/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The part of philosophy that studies the nature of reality, existence, and what is beyond the physical world. It asks questions about being, time, cause, and mind.
- She is studying metaphysics this semester.
- The book explores metaphysics and reality.
- Their discussion turned to metaphysics.
Adinary Nuance
Metaphysics is broader than philosophy. Philosophy is the whole field; metaphysics is one branch of it. It is also different from science, which studies the physical world by testing evidence. Use metaphysics for deep questions about reality, not for everyday facts.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- siêu hình học
- Spanish
- metafísica
- Chinese
- 形而上学
- Japanese
- 形而上学
- Korean
- 형이상학
Etymology
From Greek meta ta physika, meaning "after the Physics." The term entered English through Latin and was used for Aristotle's work on first principles.
Common phrases
metaphysics of mindmetaphysics of timestudy metaphysicsa course in metaphysics
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is metaphysics the same as philosophy?
- No. Metaphysics is one part of philosophy, focused on reality and existence.
- Is metaphysics a science?
- No. It is a branch of philosophy, not an experimental science.
- Is metaphysics used in academic writing?
- Yes. It is common in philosophy, literature, and academic discussion.