English
wikipedia
Etymology
From AGr. �ν|Polytonic|�ν (�n) �being�, �existing�, �essence� and λ�γο�|Polytonic|λ�γο� (logos) �account�. Introduced as a philosophical term by w:Christian_Wolff_(philosopher)|Christian Wolf (1679-1754).
Noun
en-noun|ontolog|ies
- philosophy The branch of metaphysics that addresses the nature or essential characteristics of being and of things that exist; the study of being qua being.
- philosophy The theory of a particular philosopher or school of thought concerning the fundamental types of entity in the universe.
#*2000, C.D.C. Reeve, Substantial Knowledge: Aristotle's Metaphysics, Hackett Publishing, p. 97,
#*:The answer to the controversial question of whether Aristotle's ontology includes non-substantial particulars, then, is that it does.
- logic A logical system involving theory of classes, developed by w:Stanislaw_Lesniewski|Stanislaw Lesniewski (1886-1939).
- computer science A structure of concepts or entity|entities within a domain, organized by relationships; a system model.
Derived terms
ontologic
ontological
ontologist
ontologistic
Related terms
ontic
ontically
Translations
trans-top|the study of being
Croatian: t-|hr|ontologija|f
Dutch: t-|nl|ontologie
Chinese: ��论
Italian: t-|it|ontologia|f
trans-mid
German: t-|de|Ontologie|f
Norwegian: t-|no|ontologi|m
Spanish: t-|es|ontologÃa|f
trans-bottom
trans-top|a system model in computer science
Croatian: t-|hr|ontologija|f
Norwegian: t-|no|ontologi|m
trans-mid
trans-bottom
Usage notes
In the field of philosophy there is some variation in how the term "ontology" is used. "Ontology" is a much more recent term than "metaphysics" and takes its root meaning explicitly from the Greek term for "being." "Ontology" can be used loosely as a rough equivalent to "metaphysics" or more precisely to denote that subset of the domain of metaphysics which is focussed rigorously on the study of being as being.
References
R:Webster 1828
R:Webster 1913|ontology
R:Dictionary.com|ontology
"ontology" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
"ontology" in Compact Oxford English Dictionary, © Oxford University Press, 2007.
"ontology" by F.P. Siegfried, in The Catholic Encyclopedia, Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1911.
Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.
Dictionary of Philosophy, Dagobert D. Runes (ed.), Philosophical Library, 1962. See: "Ontology" by James K. Feibleman, p. 219.
Category:Philosophy
io:ontology
id:ontology
pl:ontology
pt:ontology
te:ontology
vi:ontology
zh:ontology
| 