What is the meaning of metaphysics according to Aristotle?

Summary Metaphysics. What is known to us as metaphysics is what Aristotle called “first philosophy.” Metaphysics involves a study of the universal principles of being, the abstract qualities of existence itself.

Should I read Aristotle’s metaphysics?

Yes, you need to read any authors work to understand them. The entry on Aristotle’s logic in the Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is as good a synopsis as any. You could do well to read more than one translation – short of becoming a scholar on ancient Greek if you seek to understand what Aristotle thought.

What name did Aristotle himself give to his work that was later called metaphysics?

Within the Aristotelian corpus itself, the metaphysical treatises are referred to as τὰ περὶ τῆς πρώτης φιλοσοφίας (literally, “the [writings] concerning first philosophy”); “first philosophy” was what Aristotle called the subjects of metaphysics.

When did Aristotle write metaphysics?

In the 4th century bce the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote a treatise about what he variously called “first philosophy,” “first science,” “wisdom,” and “theology.” In the 1st century bce, an editor of his works gave that treatise the title Ta meta ta physika, which means, roughly, “the ones [i.e., books] after the …

What is metaphysical thinking?

Derived from the Greek meta ta physika (“after the things of nature”); referring to an idea, doctrine, or posited reality outside of human sense perception. Metaphysics, therefore, uses logic based on the meaning of human terms, rather than on a logic tied to human sense perception of the objective world. …

What type of philosophy is metaphysics?

Metaphysical – Longer definition: Metaphysics is a type of philosophy or study that uses broad concepts to help define reality and our understanding of it. Metaphysical studies generally seek to explain inherent or universal elements of reality which are not easily discovered or experienced in our everyday life.

Who opposed metaphysics?

In the 16th century, Francis Bacon rejected scholastic metaphysics, and argued strongly for what is now called empiricism, being seen later as the father of modern empirical science.

What is the purpose of metaphysics?

Why is it important to study metaphysics?

Metaphysics is one of the most ancient and important branches of philosophy, it is the study of the concepts that are beyond the sensible experience, empirical justifications, and physics; it aims to study the fundamental nature as a thing in itself, beyond what is tangible.

Is metaphysical the same as spiritual?

4 Answers. Metaphysics is philosophical: it’s about explaining the fundamental nature of the world and what it means as humans to inhabit it. Spirituality, on the other hand, is experiential, and has more to do with spiritual practices and the development and discovery of the self.