Metaphysics

Metaphysics. This term, which originally meant "first philosophy," or the study of first principles, is due to Aristotle's treatises on this subject having been placed after his physical treatises, meta ta physika. The term now embraces the study of ontology and such psychology as is transcendental, i.e. goes beyond conclusions derived from experience, and also any studies pursued on transcendental methods. This use is partly due to the title meta ta physilia being yvrongly supposed to mean "beyond physics," "transcending physics."