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Everything about Metaphysics

Study of fundamental reality

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that examines the basic nature or most fundamental structure of reality. It is traditionally seen as the study of mind-independent features of the world, but some theorists view it as an inquiry into the conceptual framework of human understanding. Some philosophers, including Aristotle, designate metaphysics as the first philosophy to suggest that it is more fundamental than other forms of philosophical inquiry. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: MetaphysicsA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: On the need for metaphysics in psychedelic therapy and researchInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: LilithThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Infants’ Metaphysics: The Case of Numerical IdentityCited 507 times
  5. Go sideways: ExistenceA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: OntologyA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun The branch of philosophy which studies fundamental principles intended to describe or explain all that is, and which are not themselves explained by anything more fundamental; the study of first principles; the study of being insofar as it is being (Latin: ens in quantum ens).

Noun The view or theory of a particular philosopher or school of thinkers concerning the first principles which describe or explain all that is.

Noun The metalogic of physics; the logical framework of physics.

Noun Any fundamental principles or rules.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Definition
  2. Topics
  3. Methodology
  4. Criticism
  5. Relation to other disciplines
  6. History

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

🔗 Related topics