What Is the Name Plato and Aristotle Called Metaphysics?

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Vincent White

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the study of fundamental nature and reality. It explores the nature of existence, space, time, causality, and more.

The term ‘metaphysics’ was first coined by Aristotle, but he did not use it to refer to this specific branch of philosophy. Instead, he referred to it as ‘first philosophy.’

Plato, on the other hand, used the term ‘metaphysics’ to refer to this branch of philosophy. He believed that metaphysics was concerned with understanding the ultimate reality that lies beyond the physical world.

According to Plato, there are two realms: the visible realm and the intelligible realm. The visible realm is comprised of physical objects that we can see and touch, while the intelligible realm consists of abstract concepts like justice and beauty.

Aristotle’s approach to metaphysics was slightly different from Plato’s. He believed that metaphysics was concerned with studying the nature of being itself rather than just understanding the ultimate reality beyond the physical world. For Aristotle, metaphysics was about exploring what exists in reality and how it relates to our understanding of reality.

Despite their different approaches to metaphysics, both Plato and Aristotle recognized its importance in understanding reality and existence. They both believed that it was necessary for philosophers to study this branch of philosophy if they wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.

To summarize, while Aristotle referred to metaphysics as ‘first philosophy,’ Plato used the term ‘metaphysics’ specifically for this branch of philosophy. Both philosophers recognized its importance in studying fundamental nature and reality but had slightly different approaches towards it. Regardless, their contributions have shaped our understanding of metaphysics today.