Metaphysics

Metaphysics refers to the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of existence, being and the world. In the fictional world of The Kilton Chronicles, metaphysics explores the first principles of reality.
==Etymology==
The term "metaphysics" comes from the Greek metaphysika, which means "after/behind/beyond physics". In ancient Greek, "physics" referred to the philosophical inquiry into nature or the natural world. When Aristotle's works were catalogued, some treatises not pertaining directly to natural science were collected and titled "ta meta ta phusika" ("the things after the Physics"). This second collection included texts on subjects like existence, causation and other philosophical topics, which came to be called "metaphysics". In Latin, the word was rendered as "metaphysica", which medieval scholars translated as "studies placed after the Physics". This referred to Aristotle's metaphysical treatises coming after his work on natural philosophy (physics) in the collected works. The term eventually evolved into the branch of philosophy itself that examines first principles of reality, essence and existence beyond the natural world. In The Kilton Chronicles, metaphysics explores the deepest truths about being and the complex structures of creation.
=== Languages ===
* Latin Name= Metaphysica
* Ancient Greek Name= μετὰ τὰ φυσικά
* Pronunciation= /mɛtəˈfɪzɪkə/ met-uh-fiz-i-kuh
===Platonic and Aristotelian influences===
The metaphysical structure of The Kilton Chronicles draws upon both Platonic and Aristotelian thought. Platonic metaphysics refers to Plato's ideas of objective Forms/Ideas and truth beyond the physical. Aristotelian metaphysics refers to Aristotle's conception of the physical world, categories of being, and causality.
===Planes of existence===
Metaphysics explores the layered planes of reality, from the physical world up through the spiritual and celestial hierarchies. It investigates the nature of beings that inhabit these planes such as humans, angels, demons and divine entities.
===First principle===
Underlying all of creation is the one true God, Elyon, from whom all else proceeds. The Scrolls of the Beginnings reveal Elyon's establishment of universal principles at the dawn of time.
===Fundamental Questions===
Metaphysics seeks to answer profound questions about the fundamental nature of reality, such as:
What is existence/being itself? What does it mean to be?
What are the categories of existence, like substance, quality, relation, etc.?
What is causation - how do effects relate to causes?
Is there a unified essence or form to things, or are they singular instances?
What is the relationship between mind and matter? Body and soul?
What is truth and how can it be known with certainty?
===Key Concepts===
Some of the important metaphysical concepts explored include:
Substance - The underlying reality/essence of a thing.
Universals - Shared characteristics or forms versus individual instances.
Causality - How causes and effects relate across time and space.
Being/Non-Being - The dichotomy between what truly exists and what does not.
Potentiality/Actuality - The relationship of possibility to unfolding realities.
===Schools of Thought===
Some of the dominant metaphysical philosophies that influence The Kilton Chronicles include:
Platonism - Ideal forms/universals have a more objective existence than the physical world.
Aristotelianism - Emphasis on four causes and the categories of substance.
Scholasticism - Medieval Christian synthesis of faith and reason.
Existentialism - Focus on objective reality and the individual's existential experiences.