A Brief History of Metaphysics
If you are interested in psychics and magic, chances are, you have heard of the word metaphysics.
Metaphysics is a special branch of philosophy. It studies principles that go beyond the realm of any particular science such as cosmology and ontology. Metaphysics also deals with elucidating the ultimate nature of being and the world.
The word metaphysics come from the Greek word meta, which means "after" and physika, which means "physics." After a long time, the word meta changed its meaning to "beyond," "over, or "transcending."
Metaphysics has a central branch called ontology. Ontology is the study of the types of things in the world and its relationship to other things. With ontology, experts of metaphysics try to explain and clarify the concepts and ideas by which people understand the world. This understanding includes the aspects of existence, time and possibility among others like property, space, and causality.
Presently, metaphysics is related loosely to subjects that are not observable in the physical world. For example, in a metaphysical bookstore, the books that are sold wouldn't be about the study of ontology. Rather, the books would be about spirits, healing, crystal power, occultism, and some related topics.
Scientific questions were answered as part of metaphysics before the development of true, modern science. This was known as natural philosophy. During the scientific revolution, however, natural philosophy became an experimental activity rather than true philosophy.
By the end of the eighteenth century, metaphysics became somewhat a science, differentiating it from true philosophical studies. Metaphysics became a science that deals with the philosophical inquiry into subjects that are beyond the physical world such as spirits, psychokinesis, and similar things.
Natural philosophers, notably Immanuel Kant, stated that a lot of inquiries regarding metaphysics do not require such a detailed study. He argued that these questions, particularly about the presence of God, soul and free spirit, are naturally asked by the human mind. These questions have intrigued mankind since antiquity: What is the nature of reality? Why does the world exist? What is its origin or source of creation? Does the world exist outside the mind? What is the objective of things?
The concept of metaphysics was used in the works of Aristotle as a subject of his "first philosophy." He laid the base for the study. Other philosophers and scientists, such as Parmenides of Elea, were considered the true founders of metaphysics.
Metaphysics is an interesting field of study for those who want to venture into the unknown.
