Metaphysics: FINAL BLOGPOST
Metaphysics is a study of existence
and understanding the “real” nature of things. The word means “what comes after
physics”. It is a wonder of why and what is anything and everything. It
consists of many questions for example; what is causality, what is time, is
there such a thing as free will, what is a substance. Native Americans believed that
everything had a meaning and everything happened for a reason. This ancient belief suggests that when a creature from
the animal, bird, or insect world shows itself to you, either in reality or
from the dream realm, they are there to offer you guidance. They also
used objects to help them connect to a spiritual or higher being. This could
either help them through a hard time or protect them from evil. They strongly believed that everything has a meaning
and a message and nothing is ever as it seems.
People who wonder
and contemplate on a reason of human existence. Metaphysics is closely related
to ontology. There are many more concepts of ontology because this is one of
the most active areas of metaphysics. Metaphysics studies the general nature of
things, ontology studies and concentrates on the idea of being or existing. Ontology
asks the question of “what”, while metaphysics asks the question of “how”. Metaphysics
is such a broad spectrum, it makes it more difficult to define a certain
beginning. The term metaphysics comes from a man by the name of Aristotle. Even
though he coined the term, he was certainly not the first person to raise
metaphysical questions. Greek philosophers developed all sorts metaphysical
theories. The Greeks theorized on the four elements, earth, water, air, and
fire.
The
Scientific Revolution had a fairly large impact on the way we think about metaphysics.
Many early scientists learned that they could understand the world much more
clearly and effectively by only believing in ideas which could be tested and then
be proven. People in this day and age unfortunately misunderstand and believe
science is a type of faith in the material existence in denial of an immaterial
existence. Many scientists do believe only in material existence, but this is
only because scientists like to test and prove things. As an immaterial existence
is difficult to prove, most scientists do not believe in it. Once the
scientific method was introduced, scientists believed it was obvious that you
cannot be sure of anything beyond the degree of which it can be tested and
proven. This is why many people have rejected the idea of religious belief.
Even though
metaphysics is very difficult to define, many people create their own
philosophy of what they believe is “real”. People act and participate in
metaphysics without acknowledgement of metaphysics. It is a commonly ignored
philosophy but is heavily philosophized by many people. People philosophize
about themselves, their lives, their planet, their pets, and many other things
that make up our existence. Most people ask the question of “why” or “how”
which metaphysics consists.