Supernatural
Concept of phenomena beyond the laws of nature.
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin supernaturalis, from Latin super- 'above, beyond, outside of' + natura 'nature'. Although the corollary term 'nature' has had multiple meanings since the ancient world, the term 'supernatural' emerged in the Middle Ages and did not exist in the ancient world. Many cultures around the world lack concepts or reject distinctions between the natural and supernatural.
- field
- Philosophy, Theology, Folklore
- known_for
- Concept of entities and phenomena beyond natural law
- etymology
- From Medieval Latin supernaturalis
Lore & Background
The ancient world had no word resembling 'supernatural', though Neoplatonic philosophy in the third century AD influenced the concept's development. In the medieval period, Peter Lombard used the term 'praeter naturam' to describe causes beyond nature, and Thomas Aquinas classified miracles into three categories: 'above nature', 'beyond nature', and 'against nature', sharpening the distinction between nature and miracles.
Reader's Guide
The concept of the supernatural has been central to religious and folkloric contexts, but also appears in secular contexts such as superstitions or belief in the paranormal. It encompasses non-physical entities like spirits, angels, demons, gods, and goddesses, as well as claimed abilities such as magic, telekinesis, levitation, precognition, and extrasensory perception. The term's semantic value has shifted over time, originally referring exclusively to Christian understandings of the world. Metaphysical considerations of the supernatural are complicated by disagreement about the definition of 'natural' and the limits of naturalism. The term is often used interchangeably with 'paranormal' or 'preternatural', though the latter typically describes abilities exceeding what is possible within the laws of physics. Parapsychologists use the term 'psi' to refer to an assumed unitary force underlying such phenomena.
Did You Know?
- The term 'supernatural' did not exist in the ancient world.
- Thomas Aquinas classified miracles into 'above nature', 'beyond nature', and 'against nature'.
- Many cultures lack concepts or reject distinctions between the natural and supernatural.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "supernatural" mean in a philosophical sense?
The supernatural refers to any entity, force, or event that operates outside the boundaries of natural law and cannot be accounted for by ordinary physical processes. It covers deities, spirits, and mystical occurrences that sit beyond what empirical science can measure or predict.
Where does the word "supernatural" come from?
The term traces back to the Medieval Latin word "supernaturalis," pairing the prefix "super-" (above, beyond, outside of) with "natura" (nature). It was coined to label whatever sits beyond the natural order as medieval thinkers understood it.
Did ancient civilizations have a formal concept of the supernatural?
No—the specific term and its defined philosophical category did not exist in the ancient world. The concept crystallized during the Middle Ages, even though ancient peoples certainly held beliefs about forces beyond the physical.
Why do some cultures not draw a line between the natural and the supernatural?
Many societies either lack a formal boundary between these two realms or actively reject the premise that such a distinction is meaningful. In those worldviews, what a Western thinker might label "supernatural" is simply woven into everyday reality without special categorization.
Which academic fields study the supernatural?
The supernatural is examined across philosophy, theology, and folklore studies, each approaching the concept from a different angle. Philosophy interrogates its logical boundaries, theology explores its relationship to the divine, and folklore documents how ordinary people encode supernatural beliefs in stories and traditions.
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