Philosophy, Physics, and Beyond

[Niko]

You could google yourself silly looking for the 'right' definition of metaphysics.   The word metaphysical has been attributed to philosophies of Aristotle, though it was not he who coined the word.  "In Metaphysics A.1, Aristotle says that “all men suppose what is called wisdom (sophia) to deal with the first causes (aitia) and the principles (archai) of things” "  (for an in-depth look at Aristotle's Metaphysics, click here)

Though it has its roots in philosophy, metaphysics goes beyond philosophy.  The prefix 'meta-' often means 'beyond', or 'after'.  Physics is focused on the phenomena of the physical world.  So naturally, 'metaphysics' must mean 'going beyond physical' - or something like that.

To me, the realm of metaphysics includes a great array of ideas and processes that lead one to think beyond the constraints of the human condition (that condition of being gravity-prone with a tendency to limit the true power of our being through our thoughts, beliefs, and whatnot), and experience a greater sense of livity - a fuller sense of life.

Enough rambling - metaphysics is a magical word.  How do you define it?
 

[Shanti]

METAPHYSICS  :  The branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of being and knowledge and with the essential nature of reality. ( According to  Doubleday Dictionary For Home, School and Office)

Implied  in all definitions of Metaphysics is the possibility that there are other dimensions, natural laws, and unseen energies that we can not directly perceive.  New science, math, philosophy and spiritualism explore and postulate these other realities as explanations of why our visible reality is the way it is. 

When we study the natural world and our internal conscious world, we have difficulty understanding how they came to be and where it is all going.  We can’t answer the big question WHY.  Through science and philosophy we can study how things work and se the interconnections of what we experience.  But something is missing in our understanding.  Metaphysics is the study and contemplation of what is missing.