Ontology
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Ontology | |
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| Type | Branch of metaphysics |
| Field | Philosophy |
| Core idea | Study of what exists and the categories of being |
| Assumptions | Existence claims can be meaningfully analyzed; categories of being can be distinguished |
| Status | Established field |
| Related | Metaphysics; Epistemology; Philosophy of science; Identity |
Ontology is a branch of metaphysics concerned with the study of what exists and the basic categories into which entities may be grouped. It examines the most general features of being, including the distinction between different kinds of entities and the relations that structure them.
Ontology focuses on questions of existence rather than on how existence is known, though ontological and epistemological issues are often closely connected.
Core questions
Ontological inquiry typically addresses questions such as:
- What kinds of entities exist?
- What does it mean for something to exist?
- How should entities be categorized?
- What relations hold between different kinds of entities?
These questions arise in both abstract philosophical contexts and in the interpretation of scientific and theoretical frameworks.
Categories of being
A central task of ontology is to identify and analyze categories of being. Commonly discussed categories include:
- Objects — enduring entities such as physical bodies.
- Events — occurrences located in time.
- Properties — features or attributes of entities.
- Relations — ways in which entities are connected.
- Abstract entities — such as numbers, sets, or propositions.
Disputes often concern whether particular categories are fundamental, derivative, or merely conceptual.
Ontological commitment
Ontology examines what a theory or framework is committed to assuming exists. This notion of ontological commitment concerns whether accepting a theory entails belief in the existence of certain entities, even if they are not directly observable.
Ontological analysis is therefore used to compare theories not only by their predictive success but by the kinds of entities they posit.
Identity and individuation
Questions of identity play a central role in ontology. Ontologists ask under what conditions an entity is the same entity over time and how entities are distinguished from one another.
These issues overlap with metaphysical discussions of identity and persistence, and they affect how categories are drawn.
Ontology and science
Scientific theories often carry implicit ontological commitments. For example, a physical theory may commit one to fields, particles, spacetime structures, or processes.
Ontology interacts with the philosophy of science by clarifying what scientific models assume exists and how those assumptions relate to empirical evidence.
Formal and applied ontology
In addition to philosophical inquiry, ontology has applications in areas such as information science, where formal ontologies are used to structure data and define relationships between concepts.
These applications differ from philosophical ontology in method and purpose, but they raise related questions about classification and representation.
Limits and disagreement
Ontological disputes are often persistent, as they depend on background assumptions about explanation, parsimony, and the role of theory. Disagreement does not necessarily indicate error, but reflects differing priorities and conceptual frameworks.
Recognizing these limits helps distinguish substantive ontological disagreement from purely terminological variation.
Status
Ontology is an established area of philosophical inquiry characterized by enduring questions rather than definitive resolutions. Its primary role is to clarify existence claims, categorical distinctions, and the commitments implicit in theoretical frameworks.