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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Humoristic_grafitti_(cropped).jpg|Humoristic grafitti (cropped)|thumb]] '''Meta''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] preposition and prefix meta- (μετά-), meaning "after", "beyond", "with", "adjacent", "self") is a prefix used in [[English language|English]] to indicate a concept which is an abstraction from another concept, used to complete or add to the latter. In [[epistemology]] and [[philosophy]], "meta-" is used to mean about (its own category). For example, [[metadata]] is data about data (who has produced it, when, what format the data is in and so on). Similarly, [[metaphysics]] is not physics itself, but a study of the abstract concepts behind physics.<br />
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==Usage in Various Disciplines==<br />
The prefix meta- is used in various fields with slightly different connotations, but generally, it denotes a higher level of abstraction or a self-referential perspective.<br />
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===Philosophy===<br />
In [[philosophy]], meta- often refers to the nature of something in a way that transcends its basic form or concept. [[Metaphysics]], for instance, explores the fundamental nature of reality, beyond what is accessible through physical science.<br />
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===Linguistics===<br />
In [[linguistics]], the term [[metalinguistics]] refers to the study of language and its properties from a higher-level perspective, including how we talk about language and understand it as a system.<br />
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===Computer Science===<br />
In [[computer science]], metadata is data that provides information about other data. This can include descriptions of the contents, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data.<br />
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===Mathematics===<br />
In [[mathematics]], a metatheory is a theory about a theory. Examples include studies on the foundations of mathematics, such as [[logic]] and set theory, which provide the basic principles upon which mathematics is built.<br />
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==Meta- in Popular Culture==<br />
The concept of meta- has also permeated popular culture, where it is often used to describe self-referential humor or storytelling. A "meta-joke," for example, is a joke about jokes.<br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Metaknowledge]]<br />
* [[Metaphor]]<br />
* [[Metamathematics]]<br />
* [[Metaphilosophy]]<br />
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[[Category:Linguistics]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]<br />
[[Category:Computer Science]]<br />
[[Category:Mathematics]]<br />
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