From the Greek language the word "metaphysics" is translated as "what is after physics". First of all, it is one of the philosophical doctrines about the principles of being and about being in general that is associated with this concept. In addition, the word "metaphysics" was used as a synonym for philosophy. We can say that she appeared along with philosophy, calling herself her sister. For the first time, metaphysics was thoroughly mentioned in ancient Greek philosophy in the writings of Aristotle, and this term was introduced by a librarian of the 1st century. BC e. Andronicus of Rhodes, who systematized the treatises of Aristotle.
Metaphysics in the philosophy of antiquity
In those days, there were two famous philosophical figures: Plato and his student Aristotle. The main feature of metaphysics for the first thinker was the perception of everything that exists as a single whole. Aristotle, on the other hand, singled out several sciences that emphasize various things, and at the head was the doctrine of the essence. And the essence cannot be considered in its parts, without seeing the whole picture. Also, this scientist singled out metaphysics as the meaning of any person, comprehending which you can get higherintellectual enjoyment.
Metaphysics in the philosophy of the Middle Ages
In the understanding of medieval minds, this science is one of the forms of rational understanding of this world. The concept of metaphysics in the philosophy of the Middle Ages was still reduced to the comprehension of God. It was believed that she was closer to the spiritual than to the material, and therefore, could open the gate to the knowledge of the Almighty.
Metaphysics in the philosophy of the Renaissance
As you know, at that time a person was placed in the center of the entire universe. An in-depth study of the psychological characteristics and the spiritual world of man began. And metaphysics, from the point of view of religion, could not answer the important questions of that time, so it was reduced to the level of dogma.
Metaphysics in the philosophy of modern times
This concept at that time ceased to be limited to theology and again became a means of knowing nature, because science begins to hit hard on all aspects of life. Metaphysics again rises to the top, but already natural sciences, and in some moments even merges with them. Philosophers of that era could not do without natural science knowledge. If in antiquity metaphysics was the science of being, in the Middle Ages, we can say that it was the science of God, then in modern times it has become the science of knowledge. First of all, the integrity of everything that exists has become a feature of the new metaphysics.
In the 18th century, the doctrine of being is facing a crisis. This is due to the allocation of sciences that have a more specific theme, and also began a total criticism of everything,metaphysics was also under attack. Condemned for many years, it split into ontology and natural theology.
Immanuel Kant began to work on the revival of metaphysics, or rather, on its rebirth, changing its form and proving its principles. And the New Age for the doctrine of being ended with the philosophy of Hegel, who formed metaphysics not as empty positions taken on faith, but as a theory for unifying all the sciences, the number of which is constantly growing.
