pseudometaphysics

English

Alternative forms

pseudo-metaphysics

Etymology

pseudo- +‎ metaphysics

Noun

pseudometaphysics (uncountable)

1. A hypothesized explanation of the nature of reality that lacks the rigor of true metaphysics, especially one that involves a supersensual realm or phenomena which transcend the physical world.
   • 1964, Cross Currents of Psychiatry and Catholic Morality, page 351:

     Finally, with good reason, this psychology aims to be a psychology of a purely empiriological type. It is pervaded and overwhelmed on every side, however, by a pseudometaphysics of the most vulgar character, which Freud is all the less anxious to dispense with as he imagines he has no philosophy or metaphysics at all. I say pseudometaphysics of the most vulgar type, because it combines all the prejudices of deterministic, mechanistic scientism with all the prejudices of irrationalism.

   • 2008, Andrew Beards, Method in Metaphysics: Lonergan and the Future of Analytical Philosophy, →ISBN:

     Without the explanatory dimension, insights into concrete data regarding reality, the ethical, human life and relationships run the risk of shading off into a pseudometaphysics that is in fact mythical.

   • 2016, R. G. Collingwood, An Essay on Metaphysics, →ISBN:

     Mill's attempt to answer this pseudometaphysical question is so admirable that it almost raises pseudometaphysics to the rank of a science.