metaphysics

CEFRC1

/mɛtəˈfɪzɪks/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    The study of existence, reality, and the basic nature of things.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    The metalogic of physics; the logical framework of physics.

Examples

  • Religion is the metaphysics of the common people.

  • The exact meaning of metaphysics is controversial.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The view or theory of a particular philosopher or school of thinkers concerning the first principles which describe or explain all that is.

  2. 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).

  3. The study of a supersensual realm or of phenomena which transcend the physical world.

More examples

In context

  • In Aristotelian metaphysics physical objects have both form and matter.

  • Philosophers sometimes say that metaphysics is the study of the ultimate nature of the universe.

  • The metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas holds that all real beings have both essence and existence.

Quick test

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The study of what exists beyond the physical world is called blank.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

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.