Mittefüüsilised

Mittefüüsilised is Estonian for non-physical or immaterial. As an adjective, it describes phenomena or entities that do not possess physical properties such as mass or spatial extension, or that are not explained solely by physical mechanisms.

Etymology and usage: The term combines mitte- (not) with füüsiline (physical). It is used in philosophy, psychology, theology, and everyday language to distinguish non-physical from physical phenomena. Common examples include thoughts, emotions, and other mental states; abstract objects like numbers or mathematical truths; and spiritual or supernatural beings in religious contexts.

Contexts and distinctions: In philosophical discussions, mittefüüsilised often refer to aspects of reality that are argued to lie outside the realm of physical description. This contrasts with physicalism or materialism, which hold that all phenomena ultimately reduce to physical processes. Debates about mittefüüsilised address questions about the nature of mind, consciousness, identity, and morality, and whether these can be fully explained by physical theories or require non-physical explanations.

In science, non-physical explanations are typically treated as constructs, models, or emergent properties that arise from physical substrates rather than as independent physical substances. In religion and spirituality, the term is used to categorize souls, spirits, or other immaterial beings.

See also: füüsiline maailm, vaim, mõistus, hing, abstract objects.