Metaphysics
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Metaphysics | |
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| Type | Branch of philosophy |
| Field | Philosophy |
| Core idea | Study of what exists, what it means to exist, and the fundamental structure of reality |
| Assumptions | Reality has structure independent of description; concepts can meaningfully refer to what exists |
| Status | Established field |
| Related | Epistemology; Ontology; Philosophy of mind; Philosophy of science |
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the most general features of reality, including what exists, what it means to exist, and how entities, properties, and relations are structured. It addresses questions that arise prior to, or independently of, empirical investigation, while remaining constrained by coherence and consistency.
Metaphysics does not aim to replace scientific inquiry. Instead, it examines the conceptual frameworks and assumptions that underlie claims about reality, whether scientific, everyday, or theoretical.
Core questions
Metaphysics traditionally investigates questions such as:
- What kinds of things exist?
- What is the nature of objects and properties?
- What does it mean for something to be real?
- How are time, space, causation, and possibility structured?
These questions are often abstract, but they shape how more specific theories describe and explain the world.
Ontology
A central subfield of metaphysics is ontology, the study of being and existence. Ontological inquiry asks what entities a theory commits one to, such as objects, events, processes, properties, or abstract structures.
Ontological disputes often concern whether certain kinds of entities—such as universals, numbers, or possible worlds—should be regarded as real, derivative, or merely conceptual.
Identity and persistence
Metaphysics examines how objects persist through time and change. Questions of identity ask under what conditions an entity at one time is the same entity at another time, despite alteration in properties or composition.
These issues arise in discussions of personal identity, material objects, and the continuity of systems.
Causation
The nature of causation is another longstanding topic. Metaphysical accounts of causation attempt to explain what it means for one event to bring about another, and whether causal relations are fundamental, reducible, or dependent on laws or regularities.
Different views emphasize mechanisms, counterfactual dependence, or structural relations.
Modality
Metaphysics also addresses modality, including notions of possibility, necessity, and contingency. Modal reasoning underlies claims about what could have been the case, what must be the case, and what is merely accidental.
Modal concepts are closely tied to explanations involving laws of nature, counterfactuals, and hypothetical scenarios.
Metaphysics and science
Metaphysical questions intersect with science when theories make claims about unobservable structure, fundamental entities, or the nature of laws. In the philosophy of science, metaphysics helps clarify the commitments implied by scientific models and explanations.
At the same time, metaphysical speculation is constrained by empirical findings, even when it is not directly testable.
Limits and criticism
Metaphysics has been criticized for addressing questions that are difficult or impossible to resolve definitively. Critics argue that some metaphysical disputes may reflect linguistic or conceptual differences rather than substantive disagreements.
In response, contemporary metaphysics often emphasizes clarity of assumptions, logical rigor, and explicit articulation of scope and limits.
Status
Metaphysics is an established philosophical discipline characterized by enduring questions rather than settled answers. Its role is not to deliver final descriptions of reality, but to clarify what different descriptions assume, entail, and exclude.