Meta (Greek: μετά = "after", "about," "beyond"), is a common English prefix, used to indicate a concept which is an abstraction from another concept, used to analyze the latter. For example "metaphysics" refers to things beyond physics, and "meta language" refers to a type of language or system which describes language.

In epistemology, the prefix 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, metamemory in psychology means an individual's knowledge about whether or not they would remember something if they concentrated on recalling it. Any subject can be said to have a meta-theory, which is the theoretical consideration of its foundations and methods.

Another, slightly different interpretation of this term is "about" but not "on". For example, a grammar is considered as a metalanguage, a meta-answer is not a real answer but a reply, such as: "this is not a good question", "I suggest to ask your professor". Here, we have such concepts as meta-reasoning and meta-knowledge.

In organic chemistry, "meta" (along with "ortho" and "para") is used to distinguish the three types of isomer of disubstituted benzenes: it indicates that the substituents are at locants 1 and 3. It is printed in italic type, and is often abbreviated as m in compound names. For example, the compound name meta-xylene is equivalent to m-xylene.

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Etymology

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The prefix is derived by back-formation from the Ancient Greek preposition and prefix meta- (μετά) which meant either "after" or "beside". This prefix occurred in the name of one part of Aristotle's works, the metaphysics, which originally meant simply "(the parts that come) after physics". The title was later understood to mean "(that which is) beyond physics", and meta- was thus re-analysed as meaning "beyond".

The Metacorder

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The Metacorder is a theoretical device described in the short story of the same name by Tristan Parker. As the story describes, the Metacorder is a computational device which does nothing other than monitoring its own activities. While in practice this would result in an endless loop similar to the print "print" quine, the story takes this idea and gives it a sort of intelligence which allows the Metacorder to consider and judge its own actions.

This is an example of constrained writing, both in that the story describes a single object over the course of several pages, and that it is done entirely in the voice of such an object being described. This double rule allows much playfulness, however, and the story ranges from realistic technical descriptions to vague, poetic musings while still keeping the same voice throughout.

Words using the term 'meta' or 'meta-'

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Common uses include:

• Metadata
• (or ), an HTML tag
• Metacognition
• Meta-discussion
• Meta-ethics
• Metafiction
• Meta-joke
• Meta-knowledge
• Metalanguage
• Metalogic
• Metamathematics
• Metamechanics
• Metanarrative
• Metaphilosophy
• Metaphysics
• Metacorder

For other uses, as well as uses in computer science, biology and geography, see Meta (disambiguation)

See also

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• Prefix

External links

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• meta-reasoning levels, in the TOGA meta-theory.
• metatheory -- Encyclopædia Britannica
• The Metacorder free eText

Epistemology | Abstraction | English prefixes | Fictional technology

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