Metaphysics is a wide-ranging field of philosophical pursuits designed to unravel the mysteries of life and existence.  The term "metaphysics" comes from the Greek meaning "beyond physical," and the study often extends beyond accepted mainstream science.

Aristotle was one of the first practitioners of metaphysics, labeling the study as the "first philosophy."  Aristotle divided metaphysics into three main categories: Ontology, which is the study of being and existence; Natural Philosophy, which is the study of God; and Universal Science, which studies the principles that are the foundation of all other inquiries.

Metaphysics is concerned with the essential questions at the core of existence.  Traditional metaphysics practitioners are obsessed with understanding everything about life.  They attempt to solve matters of abstract objects and mathematics, cosmology and cosmogony, determination and free will, identity and change, mind and matter, necessity and probability, objects and their properties, religion and spirituality, and space and time.  

Mainstream scientists have often criticized metaphysics for being far too vague and lacking the hard evidence to back up its sometimes extraordinary claims.  Then again, that's why they're scientists.  They lack the emotional intelligence to look beyond mere facts and figures.  It takes a combination of physical and emotional science to make sense of the human condition.     

The most controversial aspects of metaphysics are the exploration of such concepts as extrasensory perception, including telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, retrocognition, and mediumship.  Metaphysics demonstrates a closed mind is the biggest obstacle standing between man and the meaning of life.