Metaphysics is one of the core branches of philosophy. It investigates the fundamental nature of reality and existence itself. Unlike the physical sciences that study how the world works, metaphysics asks what reality actually is. Key questions in metaphysics include: What is being? What is the nature of reality? What is the relationship between mind and matter? What is causality? And what are the true natures of time and space? These profound questions have been debated by philosophers for over two thousand years.
Metaphysics has a rich history spanning over two thousand years. It began with the ancient Greeks, particularly Plato and Aristotle, who established fundamental concepts like forms and substance. During the medieval period, thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and Avicenna integrated metaphysics with religious thought. The modern era saw Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz develop rationalist approaches. In the 19th century, Kant revolutionized the field by examining the limits of metaphysical knowledge, while Hegel proposed an idealist system. The 20th century brought both analytical approaches from Russell and existential perspectives from Heidegger. Contemporary metaphysicians like Saul Kripke and David Lewis continue to explore questions of necessity, possibility, and the nature of worlds.