Archive Home Page Subj: Re:Metaphysics 94-04-24 08:35:53 EDT
From: Joe Uhrig
>>To be sure, metaphysics is not the equivalent of spirituality or religion. Metaphysics is deeply rooted in the logical interpretation of fundamental assumptions about the structure of our physical world.<<
Hmmm... not quite the definition I was using. I use it primarily to define a link between physical and spiritual reality (inner versus outer reality, etc...) though my interpretation of the word may be more liberal than the standard philosophical definition. You've reminded me how important definitions can be in this kind of discussion. Here is the American Heritage Dictionary definition:.
METAPHYSICS: n. Abbr. met., metaph.
1. (used with a sing. verb). Philosophy. The branch of philosophy that examines
the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, substance
and attribute, fact and value.
2. (used with a pl. verb). The theoretical or first principles of a particular
discipline.
3. (used with a sing. verb). A priori speculation upon questions that are unanswerable
to scientific observation, analysis, or experiment.
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Science has been undeniably moving into the areas that have historically been
exclusively the domain of religion. This is an age old conflict. There is
a long history of dogmatism and inflexability on both sides. In religion typically
the insistance on literal interpretation and in science with it's insistance
that if it can't be proved or empirically observed then it isn't real. Religious
symbols are undeniably powerful and cannot be ignored in any attempt to fully
understand the nature of the universe. Nor can the undeniable observations of
science be ignored. I think there is a ground where the two come together.
thoughts?