metaphysics
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metaphysics
- /mɛtəˈfɪzɪks/
Where it comes from
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 Medieval 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.
noun metaphysics
- 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). The late philosopher Morris R. Cohen of CCNY was asked by a student in the metaphysics course, "Professor Cohen how do I know that I exist?" The keen old prof replied, "And who is asking?"
- 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.
- The metalogic of physics; the logical framework of physics. Even other universes should be a result of different physics. Without rules, these universes wouldn't exist, because they will have an undefined, thus impossible, nature. We will never understand or guess all possible forms of physics. That's why we have to understand the generic metaphysics.
- Any fundamental principles or rules. The metaphysics of global power has changed. Markets are now more valuable than territory.
- 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.
- Displeasingly abstruse, complex material on any subject. This political polemic strikes me as a protracted piece of overwrought, fog-shrouded metaphysics!
noun
- plural of metaphysic
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: idealism, ontology, cosmology, ontosophy, transcendentalism, theosophy, esoterics, foundationalism, universalism, metaphysicks, metametaphysics, metaphilosophy, metaphysicianism, metaphysick, philosophy, metaphysical naturalism
Translations
Every language
noun branch of philosophy that studies first principles
| Español | metafísica |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 형이상학 hyeong'isanghak |
| 日本語 | 形而上学 keijijōgaku |
| 中文 | 形而上學 /形而上学 xíng'érshàngxué, 形上 xíngshàng |
| हिन्दी | तत्त्वमीमांसा tattvamīmānsā, आत्मविद्या ātmavidyā |
| Kiswahili | metafizikia |
| Português | metafísica |
| Deutsch | Metaphysik |
| Ελληνικά | μεταφυσική metafysikí |
| Русский | метафи́зика metafízika |
| Tiếng Việt | siêu hình học |
| العربية | مِيتَافِيزِيقَا mītāfīzīqā, مَا وَرَاءَ الطَّبِيعِيَّات mā warāʔa ṭ-ṭabīʕiyyāt |
Talk about this word "metaphysics." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/metaphysics. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. metaphysics. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/metaphysics "metaphysics." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/metaphysics.Cite this
@misc{metaphysics_2026,
title = {metaphysics},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/metaphysics},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
