Meta

“Meta” is a prefix derived from Greek, meaning “beyond,” “after,” or “transcending.” In various contexts, it denotes a self-referential quality or an abstraction that goes beyond the conventional. For instance, in philosophy, “meta” can refer to discussions about the nature of topics themselves, such as “metaphilosophy,” which examines the nature and methodology of philosophy. In literature and art, “meta” can describe works that self-consciously refer to their own status as creations, such as “metafiction,” where the narrative calls attention to its fictional nature. In the context of technology and social media, “Meta” is notably associated with Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook, which aims to build the metaverse, a collective virtual shared space. Overall, “meta” encompasses the idea of reflection, higher order thinking, and abstraction across disciplines.