When Aristotle’s works were collected, the books following his Physics were referred to as “after physics” (now known as metaphysics), simply because they were bound that way.

Unlike physics, where topics are dealt with experiments and observations, metaphysics deals with truths purely by reasoning, like mathematics. In other words, any topics that seeks truths on the basis of experimentations, proofs and observations, are the domain of physics. Whereas the when we seek to seek the truth through logical reasoning and hypothesis, we are in the world of metaphysics.

Here’s an example of metaphysical thinking: The universe was created last Thursday.

Reasoning Any evidence you have to the contrary—your childhood memories, the fossil record, the scarred ruins of ancient Rome, or the leftovers in your fridge from Wednesday—was created in place last Thursday to give the appearance of age.

Proof You cannot disprove this. There is no physical experiment or logical proof that can distinguish between a universe that is billions of years old and one created five days ago with “built-in” memories.