Metaphysics

Metaphysics is a construction and criticism of theories of what is really real. It studies the fundamental
nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute,
and between potentiality and actuality. It postulates the idea of a realm of being beyond the observable
physical world and seeks to understand it and its relationship to the physical world.

Characteristics of Material Being

Material being is a characterized as spatial, public and mechanical. Spatiality of material being refers to
the fact that materials are shaped and bounded in physical space, located through specific coordinates.
Public materiality refers to the idea that these objects, are produced, maintained and interpreted by
collectives of people and thus have larger social and cultural implications. Finally, mechanical materiality
looks at the movements, shapes, and forces that interact with material objects, as well as the
technology used to transform them.

Characteristics of Immaterial Being

Immaterial being is characterized by being non-spatial, private and teleological. It is distinct from
material objects which can be perceived with physical senses. Immaterial being is non-spatial, meaning
it does not take up physical space. It exists in a non-temporal plane. It is also private in that it is unique
to each individual. It is more than just subjective experience; it is experienced by each individual in a
different way. Finally, it is teleological in that its existence is imagined and perceived in the pursuit of a
particular purpose or goal.

Mechanical

Mechanical is the science of using forces and motion to create tools, machines, and other systems. It is
governed by laws of physics, rather than by intentional human designs. Mechanical systems rely on
physics to explain how they work, including the understanding of the forces of inertia, friction, and
gravity; the motions of rotation and oscillation; and the transformations of energy which allow
mechanical systems to operate.

Teleological

Teleological, as it relates to philosophy, is the belief that all events are governed by a purpose or goal,
and that they follow an intentional plan. Philosophy that takes a teleological view of the world believes
that existence is explainable and justifiable when viewed in the context of its intended purpose. Taking a
teleological perspective, one may seek to understand the meaning of life by exploring the overall
purpose and intent behind it all.

Materialism

Materialism is a metaphysical theory that claims that only material beings are truly real, and that
immaterial beings such as souls, spirits, or gods do not exist. According to this concept, material is the
only substance of which physical objects are composed and it is the only reality. Therefore, all
phenomenon in the universe are ultimately explicable in terms of material forces.
 Idealism

Idealism is a metaphysical theory that states that ideas, rather than physical things, are truly real. It is
often associated with the Platonic idea of the primacy of the world of forms. This theory suggests that
reality exists only as an idea, or spiritual form, in the mind and ultimately cannot be known outside the
realm of thought. The theories of Idealism, then, suggest that our knowledge is not derived from
physical objects, but from an idea of some kind.

Dualism

Dualism is a metaphysical theory that suggests reality is a combination of both material and immaterial
aspects. The material aspect is composed of the physical world we see and interact with, while the
immaterial aspect consists of intangible, non-physical mental states, such as thought, ideas and
emotion.

Pluralism

Pluralism is the view that reality is composed of many different and irreducible real things. It stands in
contrast to monism—the view that reality is ultimately one thing—and gives rise to a variety of
arguments, such as in favor of conceptual diversity or an ethical requirement for giving equal
consideration to multiple perspectives.

Monism

Monism is the idea that there is only one single principle of reality. From a materialist perspective,
physical matter is seen as the only reality, while an idealist view posits that all reality exists as mental
phenomena. Monism rejects the notion of dualism, which holds that reality is composed of two different
and distinct substance types.