Joe Buechler, age 8, of Louisville, Kentucky, for his question:

What is metaphvsics?

Metaphysics is a big, beautiful word. But you cannot learn very much about it in a whole lifetime. It is full of deep questions, such as why the world was created and why people should strive to get along together. And, let's face it, some people talk a lot of nonsense about metaphysics. They think they know all these answers better than everybody else. This is not the real thing. In metaphysics you cannot prove whether your answers are correct. But just thinking about these important problems makes a person feel better    which is somewhat mysterious.

Some of the questions that pop into our heads have provable answers and some do not. A mechanic can show us how an engine works. It has energy and solid material  ¬which makes it a problem of physics. Scientists can explain what makes the sky blue. This too is a problem of physics, because light is energy and air is a form of matter. Everything in the world is matter and energy. So are the other planets, the sun, the stars and the whole universe. We can   derstand this vast realm of matter and energy and prove how it works. But sometimes we wonder what is behind the scenes. We wonder why the universe was created, who runs it and what are the best rules to live by. These questions take us behind the scenes into the mysterious realm of metaphysics.

Here our imaginations can run off in all directions, which is why some people have very fanciful ideas about metaphysics. Sensible people know that they are happier when they probe to find sensible answers. Some people find these answers in religion. In ancient times, the wise ones thought a lot about philosophy    which means the love of wisdom. And philosophy is just about the most important part of metaphysics. The test is very simple. It asks whether thinking about a certain problem will help me to be a better person.

Sensible people do a lot of thinking about philosophy, whether they know it or not. Your parents ponder these problems when they hopefully plan your education. You do the same thing when you wonder how the world could be a better place for everybody to live in. You also wonder about the marvelous world of nature and what miracles must be behind the scenes. Just thinking about these things makes a person feel better  ¬and very often, better things come to meet you.

Most children wonder about the mysterious things behind the scenes, the real hidden reasons that make things as they are. Now you know that this is the secret world of metaphysics. But please remember that it only helps you when you search for the really sensible answers. And you know which ones they are, just as soon as the questions pop into your head.