ontology

on·tol·o·gy

noun \än-ˈtä-lə-jē\

Definition of ONTOLOGY

1

: a branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being

2

: a particular theory about the nature of being or the kinds of things that have existence

— on·tol·o·gist \-jist\ noun

Origin of ONTOLOGY

New Latin ontologia, from ont- + -logia -logy

First Known Use: circa 1721

Other Philosophy Terms

dialectic, dualism, epistemology, existentialism, metaphysics, sequitur, solipsism, transcendentalism

Rhymes with ONTOLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, virology, zoology

ontology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Theory of being as such. It was originally called “first philosophy” by Aristotle. In the 18th century Christian Wolff contrasted ontology, or general metaphysics, with special metaphysical theories of souls, bodies, or God, claiming that ontology could be a deductive discipline revealing the essences of things. This view was later strongly criticized by David Hume and Immanuel Kant. Ontology was revived in the early 20th century by practitioners of phenomenology and existentialism, notably Edmund Husserl and his student Martin Heidegger. In the English-speaking world, interest in ontology was renewed in the mid-20th century by W.V.O. Quine; by the end of the century it had become a central discipline of analytic philosophy. See also idealism; realism; universal.