Other meta-topics of interest, relating to language, thought, speech and writing. Enjoy!
Meta–: For the purposes of this blog, “the modern, inferred meaning of a higher-order, self-referential consideration of the nature of an activity—rather than actual, first-level participation in the activity” (Wikipedia article on Meta-discussion).
- The Wikipedia article on “Meta-“
- The Oxford English Dictionary entry on Meta.
- My own post, Meta-Meta.
Metacognition: Knowing about knowing. Are you aware that you know things? Have you ever wondered why certain thoughts pop into your head in association with certain smells? Do you wonder why sometimes you can’t get your inner, mental voice to shut up? If a rat is capable of metacognition, you are too! (See the articles below about rats reflecting on mental processes!)
- It can take many forms; “it includes knowledge about when and where to use particular strategies for learning or for problem solving.” “Metamemory, individuals’ knowledge about memory, is an especially important form of metacognition.” (Wikipedia on Metacognition).
- “Rats Capable of Reflecting on Mental Processes”. Science Daily. March 9, 2007.
- Foote, Allison L.; Jonathon D. Crystal (20 March 2007). “Metacognition in the Rat”. Current Biology 17 (6): 551–555.
Metadiscussion: A discussion whose subject is a discussion, for example a school meeting to discuss the upcoming parent-student conferences. A metadiscussion can cover topics such as: setting, participants, style of discussion, and relationship of that discussion to other discussions.
- Wikpedia: Metadiscussion.
- Metadiscussion: An Explanation by Sarah Fitz-Claridge.
Meta-emotion: An emotional response to your own emotions. For example, when you get annoyed at yourself for being attracted to someone you don’t like. Or when you get angry at yourself for getting angry at someone. Or when you realize you are in a good mood and that improves your mood.
- Wikpedia: Metaemotion.
Meta-ethics: Why do we think we must share and why do we feel guilty if we hide something for ourselves? Why does the law consider campaign contributions different than bribes? Why is it wrong for a citizen to kill, but okay for a nation to kill through war and the death penalty?
- “The branch of ethics that seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, and ethical statements, attitudes, and judgments” (Wikipeida: Meta-ethics).
- Stafford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Meta-ethics.
- Kant, Immanuel. “Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals.” Project Gutenberg.
Metagaming: “Any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game. Another definition refers to the game universe outside of the game itself. (Wikipedia: Metagaming).
Metahuman (superhumans in DC Universe): A superhuman in DC comics, equivalent of the mutant in the Marvel Universe.
- Wikipedia: Metahumans.
- Methuman Press at metahumanpress.com
- The history of the universe, with metahumans at The Unofficial History of the DC Universe.
Metaknowledge: “Meta-knowledge is a fundamental conceptual instrument in such research and scientific domains as, knowledge engineering, knowledge management, and others dealing with study and operations on knowledge, seen as a unified object/entities, abstracted from local conceptualizations and terminologies. Examples of the first-level individual meta-knowledge are methods of planning, modeling, tagging, learning and every modification of a domain knowledge. The procedures, methodologies and strategies of teaching, coordination of e-learning courses are individual meta-meta-knowledge of an intelligent entity (a person, organization or society). Put simpler, metaknowledge may be linked to knowledge you need but you don’t yet possess: it is a cluster of definitions and methods aiming to guide you in gathering the pertinent knowledge with regard to your activity” (from Wikipedia: Metaknowledge).
Metalanguage: Metalanguage “can refer to any terminology or language used to discuss language itself: a written grammar, for example, or a discussion about language use” (from Wikipedia: Metalanguage).
- Principia Cybernetica Web article on Metalanguage.
Metalogic: “While logic is the study of the manner in which logical system can be used to decide the correctness of arguments, metalogic studies the properties of the logical systems themselves. According to Geoffrey Hunter, while logic concerns itself with the “truths of logic,” metalogic concerns itself with the theory of “sentences used to express truths of logic.” (from Wikipedia: Metalogic.)
Metamedia: “As coined in the writings of Marshall McLuhan, metamedia referred to new relationships between form and content in the development of new technologies and new media.[1] McLuhan’s concept described the totalizing effect of media” (from Wikipedia: Metamedia).
Metaphilosophy: The study of the nature, method, and aims of philosophy
- Wikipedia: Metaphilosophy.
- Metaphilosophy. Wiley: Knowledge for Generations.
Metarealism: Metaphysical or metaphoric realism, a direction in Russian poetry and fiction born in 1970s and 1980s. “Metarealism seeks to depict the reality which exist beyond that psychological subjective perspective. Metarealism proposes not only to communicate further than the pictorial aspect of the perception of other dimension of reality, but also the essence of those dimensions and their relation to us as human beings” (from Wikipedia: Metarealism).