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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.