Science and Metaphysics
by Tatiana Velitchkov © 2009

Science and metaphysics are two things that are best understood in their coexistence. Separation of the two leads to a tunnel of persistent, unanswered questions with no conclusive answers. Throughout history since the days of Aristotle and Plato (who built the grounds not only for metaphysics but philosophy in general) the relationship between science and metaphysics is simplest described as inseparable.

Metaphysics is inquiry into the nature of being. Science on the other hand relative to the subject of interest, is an effort to increase the understanding of how all things matter (including reality) work. It is an inquiry into life. When taking a journey to understand the working of the universe and everything in it, science makes the first half and metaphysics completes it.

Studies in science have been able to explain very many things in this world and science continues to play such a fundamental role in understanding of everything around us. From the technology to the breakthroughs in medicine and research, there is a lot we owe to science. However that is just about it. Science has no reasons of explaining intuition or the belief that man has with divine power. Science cannot explain free will, maybe instinct but not free will. This is the part where metaphysics takes over and tries to understand and perhaps provide reasons for all these unanswered questions. Nature of the mind, existence of the soul and spirituality are some of the areas that science employs metaphysics.

The relationship as brought out thus far is undeniable. Probably the closest link between these two and the one that has been raising the most questions is the perception of reality. The space and time frame that exists is described as a state of the mind by metaphysics and that the existence of space is solely dependent on the existence of physical things and beings. Science explains that time exists in dimensions and the reality that we are in – is dimension called the present and that the future and the past are in existence at any one moment. These different approaches are not a disruption of the harmony between the disciplines; it is just one idea with two different spins.

It is still not clearly understood what precedes what, but what is for sure is that none of the two can be complete or exist independently, without demand for the other.