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Metaphysics is a dark ocean without shores or lighthouse, strewn with many a philosophic wreck.
Immanuel Kant

Meaning of "metaphysics" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD METAPHYSICS

From Medieval Latin, from Greek ta meta ta phusika the things after the physics, from the arrangement of the subjects treated in the works of Aristotle.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF METAPHYSICS

metaphysics  [ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪks] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF METAPHYSICS

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Metaphysics is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES METAPHYSICS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Metaphysics

Metaphysics is a traditional branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms: ▪ What is ultimately there? ▪ What is it like? A person who studies metaphysics is called a metaphysicist  or a metaphysician. The metaphysician attempts to clarify the fundamental notions by which people understand the world, e.g., existence, objects and their properties, space and time, cause and effect, and possibility. A central branch of metaphysics is ontology, the investigation into the basic categories of being and how they relate to each other. Another central branch of metaphysics is cosmology, the study of the origin, fundamental structure, nature, and dynamics of the universe. Some include Epistemology as another central focus of metaphysics but this can be questioned. Prior to the modern history of science, scientific questions were addressed as a part of metaphysics known as natural philosophy.

Definition of metaphysics in the English dictionary

The first definition of metaphysics in the dictionary is the branch of philosophy that deals with first principles, esp of being and knowing. Other definition of metaphysics is the philosophical study of the nature of reality, concerned with such questions as the existence of God, the external world, etc. Metaphysics is also abstract or subtle discussion or reasoning.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH METAPHYSICS


astrophysics
ˌæstrəʊˈfɪzɪks
attophysics
ˈætəʊˌfɪzɪks
biophysics
ˌbaɪəʊˈfɪzɪks
cryophysics
ˌkraɪəʊˈfɪzɪks
geophysics
ˌdʒiːəʊˈfɪzɪks
macrophysics
ˌmækrəʊˈfɪzɪks
microphysics
ˌmaɪkrəʊˈfɪzɪks
nanophysics
ˈnænəʊˌfɪzɪks
pataphysics
ˈpætəˌfɪzɪks
petrophysics
ˌpetrəʊˈfɪzɪks
physics
ˈfɪzɪks
psychophysics
ˌsaɪkəʊˈfɪzɪks

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE METAPHYSICS

metaphorical
metaphorically
metaphoricalness
metaphorist
metaphosphate
metaphosphoric acid
metaphrase
metaphrasis
metaphrast
metaphrastic
metaphrastical
metaphrastically
metaphysic
metaphysical
metaphysically
metaphysician
metaphysicise
metaphysicist
metaphysicize
metaplases

WORDS THAT END LIKE METAPHYSICS

atomic physics
basics
classics
descriptive metaphysics
forensics
health physics
high-energy physics
kinesics
nuclear physics
particle physics
solid-state physics
the classics
theoretical physics
to get back to basics

Synonyms and antonyms of metaphysics in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «metaphysics» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF METAPHYSICS

Find out the translation of metaphysics to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of metaphysics from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «metaphysics» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

形而上学
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

la metafísica
570 millions of speakers

English

metaphysics
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

तत्वमीमांसा
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الميتافيزيقيا
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

метафизика
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

metafísica
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

অধিবিদ্যা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

métaphysique
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Metafizik
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Metaphysik
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

形而上学
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

형이상학
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Metafisika
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

hình nhi thượng học
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

மெட்டாபிசிக்ஸின்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

तत्त्वज्ञानविषयक
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

metafizik
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

metafisica
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

metafizyka
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

метафізика
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

metafizică
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

μεταφυσική
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

metafisika
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

metafysik
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

metafysikk
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of metaphysics

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «METAPHYSICS»

The term «metaphysics» is quite widely used and occupies the 36.577 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
83
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «metaphysics» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of metaphysics
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «metaphysics».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «METAPHYSICS» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «metaphysics» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «metaphysics» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about metaphysics

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «METAPHYSICS»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word metaphysics.
1
F. H. Bradley
Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.
2
Dan Brown
The more science I studied, the more I saw that physics becomes metaphysics and numbers become imaginary numbers. The farther you go into science, the mushier the ground gets. You start to say, 'Oh, there is an order and a spiritual aspect to science.'
3
Wilhelm Dilthey
Ancient metaphysics underwent many changes at the hands of medieval thinkers who brought it in line with the dominant religious and theological movements of their day.
4
Wilhelm Dilthey
The knife of historical relativism... which has cut to pieces all metaphysics and religion must also bring about healing.
5
Wilhelm Dilthey
However, the sciences of society and of history retained their old subservient relation to metaphysics for a long time - well into the eighteenth century.
6
Martin Heidegger
To think Being itself explicitly requires disregarding Being to the extent that it is only grounded and interpreted in terms of beings and for beings as their ground, as in all metaphysics.
7
Joseph Joubert
Logic works, metaphysics contemplates.
8
Immanuel Kant
Metaphysics is a dark ocean without shores or lighthouse, strewn with many a philosophic wreck.
9
Gabriel Marcel
It is right that we be concerned with the scientific probity of metaphysics.
10
Gabriel Marcel
Metaphysics is a science.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «METAPHYSICS»

Discover the use of metaphysics in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to metaphysics and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Metaphysics: Concept and Problems
This volume makes available in English for the first time the famed lectures on metaphysics by one of the founders of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory and one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century.
Theodor W. Adorno, Rolf Tiedemann, 2002
2
Metaphysics
This book provides an introduction to metaphysics. At the outset Professor Hamlyn distinguishes two conceptions of metaphysics running through the history of the subject.
D. W. Hamlyn, 1984
3
The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality
In The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality, Heim considers this and other philosophical issues of the Information Age.
Michael Heim, 1993
4
Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics
This fifth, enlarged edition includes marginal notations made by Heidegger in his personal copy of the book and four new appendices—Heidegger's postpublication notes on the book, his review of Ernst Cassirer's Philosophy of Symbolic Forms ...
Martin Heidegger, 1997
5
Metaphysics: Contemporary Readings
Covering comics from the United States, Europe and Japan, Adult Comics addresses such issues as the graphic novel in context, cultural overspill and the role of women.
Michael J. Loux, 2001
6
Metaphysics: The Creation of Hierarchy
"This book does nothing less than to set new standards in combining philosophical with political theology.
Adrian Pabst, 2012
7
Metaphysics
Articles are double-blind peer reviewed by an internationally renowned editorial board. Each issue is dedicated to a specific topic announced through a call for papers. The second issue's topic is "Metaphysics."
Dietmar H. Heidemann, 2010
8
Metaphysics: An Anthology
This Anthology, intended to accompany A Companion to Metaphysics (Blackwell, 1995), brings together over 60 selections which represent the best and most important works in metaphysics during the last century.
Jaegwon Kim, Ernest Sosa, 1999
9
The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics: Making Sense of Things
This book charts the evolution of metaphysics since Descartes and provides a compelling case for why metaphysics matters.
A. W. Moore, 2012
10
The Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics: World, Finitude, ...
This work, the text of Martin Heidegger's lecture course of 1929/30, is crucial for an understanding of Heidegger's transition from the major work of his early years, Being and Time, to his later preoccupations with language, truth, and ...
Martin Heidegger, 2001

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «METAPHYSICS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term metaphysics is used in the context of the following news items.
1
The Mythological Moralities of Planned Parenthood and Caitlyn …
This lesson in metaphysics is helpful in understanding why many people who seemingly celebrate the apparent happiness and flourishing of ... «Patheos, Jul 15»
2
​Some Correspondence With an Atheist
He wrote, “No metaphysics are needed in my cosmos, thanks.” Although he respected his religious friends, his own views were “close to the ... «First Things, Jul 15»
3
Lose yourself in this trippy, existential interactive picturebook
People will use the word "trippy" about just about anything that suggests pretty colors and metaphysics, but fans of psychedelia in particular will ... «Boing Boing, Jul 15»
4
Next Weekend's Other Big Party: A Few Important Facts About …
Those workshops tend to be everything from body consciousness to spirituality to metaphysics to music production. Our keynote workshops are ... «TheStranger.com, Jul 15»
5
FRESH MEAT | FROM OUR COMMUNITY BLOGS
But let's not go into metaphysics now, or we'll be here for the next decade. Also, not to go off on a tangent, but am I the only one who's seriously ... «Destructoid, Jul 15»
6
Beverly Hills Psychic Says Religious Leaders are Being Replaced
Anyone with any degree of mastery, in the field of Metaphysics, understands that time and space really exist in the mind. It's an illusion. But time ... «SYS-CON Media, Jul 15»
7
Mind Uploading and The Question of Life, the Universe, and …
A taxonomy and metaphysics of mind-uploading. Humanity+ Press and Alautun Press. Zubrin, R. 2000. Entering space: Creating a spacefaring ... «Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, Jul 15»
8
Placate dragon to give estate better chance
Kerby Kuek has published 15 books on feng shui, inner alchemy, Taoism and metaphysics. He can be contacted at www.kerbykuek.com ... «Hong Kong Standard, Jul 15»
9
Debating Homosexuality
Islamic metaphysics, in contrast, does have just such a theory. Muslim scholarship frequently delves into metaphysical questions like the nature ... «MuslimMatters, Jul 15»
10
School of Metaphysics president offers new workshop
MAPLEWOOD, MO (KTVI)- Dr. Damian Blair Nordmann is the President of the School of Metaphysics, which is headquartered in Windyville, MO ... «fox2now.com, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Metaphysics [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/metaphysics>. May 2024 ».
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