Metaphysics

I am not a philosophy major as you'd have to be an idiot to major in philosophy. Thus, the below statements are verified by the fact that they're understandable by general people and make actual sense, not that they sound fancy.

Definition 1. Logical analysis to determine the nature of the reality that observable, scientific reality exists within. Absolutely (necessarily) separated from empirical analysis of observable, scientific reality (these are 'physics').

'Meta' means 'around', 'before', 'encompassing all within'. 'Meta topics' in any forum are discussion of the forum itself, rather than specific contents the forum is meant to discuss. 'Metadiscussion' as a topic, is discussion of discussion. 'Meta analysis' of scientific journals is scientific analysis of all scientific data.

Physics is the study of change in the Universe.

Metaphysics, just literally read, means logical or empirical analysis to determine the nature of the reality within which all that is analysed by physics, the Universe, is.

Definition 2. Goddamn anything you want. Anything that isn't metaphysics by the above definition and is still called metaphysics, is metaphysics because someone said it is.

Anyone wanting to add to the definitions: listing examples isn't providing a definition. Philosophy is nothing if not comprehensible, ie. either using language that's clearly defined, or using language that's all of: literally interpretable, logically cohesive, and warranted in actual use.

Person 1: "I'm studying metaphysics"
Person 2: "Why?"

by Geraurban September 29, 2021

Metaphysics

The science of the metaphysical. How the gods scientifically exist, scientifically created so called 'magic', how their 'magic' isn't really magic but science that is beyond humanity's current capacity to comprehend and how the gods use science to control the laws of nature (science).

(Please study the Kardashev Scale Theory to understand how all this could be possible).

(e.g. 1: 'Some say that the gods were extraterrestrials who looked the same as the humans, were so technologically advanced that they scientifically became immortal conscious simulations living in their own matrix (powered by the stars/a super-computer), control the laws of nature and hack into other's minds to appear to them').

Note: The science of metaphysics is like the most difficult maths equation in the universe. Metaphysics is so complex that it's currently something only the gods and their divine children can understand.

by DianaLuciusDeCollis August 24, 2022

Metaphysics (Physics of Physics)

In this specific, modern context, it's the study of the fundamental assumptions, interpretations, and unsolved conceptual puzzles within physics itself. It's not the ancient philosophical field of "metaphysics" (the study of being), but a pragmatic examination of physics' own foundations. It asks: What does quantum mechanics actually tell us about reality? What is the nature of space and time? How do we interpret the mathematical formalism? It’s the troubleshooting manual for when the math works perfectly but the story it tells seems insane.

Example: The endless debates over the Copenhagen Interpretation vs. the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics are Metaphysics (Physics of Physics). The equations predict outcomes identically; the fight is over what the math means for the nature of reality—a question physics itself, as a tool, is unequipped to answer.

by Dumu The Void February 4, 2026

Hard Problem of Metaphysics

The problem of its own possibility. Metaphysics seeks to describe the fundamental nature of reality (being, time, causality, objects). The hard problem is that any such description must be made from within reality, using a human mind, which is a product of that reality. We are like cells in a body trying to describe human anatomy from the inside, using only cellular language. Our concepts (like "cause" or "substance") may be projections of our cognitive architecture, not features of the world-in-itself. Therefore, metaphysics may tell us more about how human minds must think than about how reality must be.

*Example: A metaphysician argues brilliantly that time is an illusion, a block universe. But they still must make their dinner reservation for 7 PM, live with the anxiety of deadlines, and experience the undeniable flow of their own consciousness. The hard problem: The metaphysical theory, even if logically coherent, is existentially inert. It cannot be lived. This suggests metaphysics may be an elaborate, self-consistent language game, decoupled from the reality it purports to explain. We are building castles of abstraction on a foundation (our own perception) we cannot inspect without using the very tools we're inspecting.* Hard Problem of Metaphysics.

by Enkigal January 24, 2026

Hard Problem of Spirituality and Metaphysics

The Hard Problem of Spirituality and Metaphysics concerns the difficulty of explaining subjective spiritual experiences, metaphysical meaning, and existential significance using objective, physical descriptions. Similar to the hard problem of consciousness, it asks why inner experiences of transcendence, purpose, or “the sacred” exist at all, and whether they correspond to real structures beyond the physical world. The problem challenges reductionist explanations, suggesting that spiritual phenomena may involve extraphysical dimensions, emergent metaphysical properties, or irreducible aspects of reality that resist empirical measurement.

Hard Problem of Spirituality and Metaphysics — Example

Two individuals undergo near-identical neurological states, yet one experiences a profound sense of transcendence while the other does not. No physical measurement explains the difference. The hard problem arises in explaining why spiritual meaning emerges subjectively and whether such experiences correspond to real metaphysical structures rather than being purely neurological artifacts.

by AbzuInExile January 24, 2026

The 2 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics

A foundational model for understanding metaphysical systems along two fundamental dimensions. The first axis runs from Materialism (reality is fundamentally physical—matter, energy, particles) to Idealism (reality is fundamentally mental—consciousness, ideas, spirit). The second axis runs from Monism (reality is one substance or principle) to Pluralism (reality consists of many fundamental kinds). These two axes create four basic metaphysical orientations: materialist-monism (physicalism: everything is matter), materialist-pluralism (multiple kinds of physical stuff), idealist-monism (Advaita Vedanta: all is consciousness), idealist-pluralism (Leibniz: many mental substances). The model reveals that metaphysics isn't a single debate—it's a choice about what fundamentally exists and how many kinds of fundamental things there are.

The 2 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics "You say everything is physical. That's materialism. But is everything one kind of physical stuff (monism) or many kinds (pluralism)? The 2 Axes ask: are you a materialist monist like Spinoza, or a materialist pluralist like most scientists? Same materialism, different metaphysics. The axes give you the next question."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics

An expanded model adding two crucial dimensions to the basic framework. Axis 1: Materialism-Idealism (matter vs. mind). Axis 2: Monism-Pluralism (one vs. many). Axis 3: Realism-Antirealism (reality exists independently vs. reality depends on mind/language). Axis 4: Atomism-Holism (reality consists of fundamental parts vs. wholes are primary). These four axes create sixteen metaphysical positions. Scientific realism is materialist, pluralist (many particles), realist, atomist (particles fundamental). Quantum holism might be materialist, monist (field), realist, holist (wholes primary). Idealism is idealist, could be monist or pluralist, could be realist (ideas independent) or antirealist (ideas depend on larger Mind). The 4 Axes reveal that metaphysical positions are defined by clusters of commitments.

The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics "You think you're just a realist. The 4 Axes ask: realist about what? Material or ideal? One or many? Atomist or holist? Scientific realism is very different from Platonic realism, even though both are realist. The axes show you what kind of realist you actually are—or whether you've even thought about it."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026