| − | '''Metaphysics''' is the branch of [[philosophy]] concerned with the fundamental nature of [[reality]]. <ref>[http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/N095 Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]</ref> It draws its name from from the [[Greek]] meta ta phusika, meaning literally 'beyond [[physics]]', because the book comes after the [[Physics (Aristotle)| Physics]] in the order assigned by an editor of Aristotle's works, [[Andronicus of Rhodes]], about the year A.D. 70. The term metaphysics was unknown to Aristotle, and he variously called this branch of philosophy "first science", "[[wisdom]]" [[Theology | theological science]]" (theologikê) and "first philosophy" (prôtê philosophia)<ref>[http://www.seop.leeds.ac.uk/entries/metaphysics/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy].</ref> Metaphysics includes topics such as philosophy of [[mind]], [[identity]], philosophy of [[space]] and [[time]] (including [[cosmogeny]]), [[free will]], and the difference between necessity and possibility. | + | '''Metaphysics''' is the branch of [[philosophy]] concerned with the fundamental nature of [[reality]]. <ref>[http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/N095 Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]</ref> It draws its name from from the [[Greek]] meta ta phusika, meaning literally 'beyond [[physics]]', because the book comes after the [[Physics (Aristotle)| Physics]] in the order assigned by an editor of Aristotle's works, [[Andronicus of Rhodes]], about the year A.D. 70. The term metaphysics was unknown to Aristotle, and he variously called this branch of philosophy "first science", "[[wisdom]]" [[Theology | theological science]]" (theologikê) and "first philosophy" (prôtê philosophia)<ref>[http://www.seop.leeds.ac.uk/entries/metaphysics/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy].</ref> Metaphysics includes topics such as philosophy of [[mind]], [[identity]], philosophy of [[space]] and [[time]] (including cosmogeny), [[free will]], and the difference between necessity and possibility. |
| | In common usage, Metaphysics can also refer to philosophical speculation of any kind, even when not strictly philosophical, such as [[mysticism]] or [[New Age]]. | | In common usage, Metaphysics can also refer to philosophical speculation of any kind, even when not strictly philosophical, such as [[mysticism]] or [[New Age]]. |