Supernatural

[PsychoticEpisode]

So many times I have seen this word used to describe an outworldly event or circumstance. To me the word is suggestive of a natural (of this world) event but only greater. Clearly this is not its intended use in many debates.

Would it be more correct to use the word unnatural instead? Or superunnatural if there is such a word?

[John99]

Would it be more correct to use the word unnatural instead? Or superunnatural if there is such a word?

i think unnatural pertains to a human condition. the reason is because we are very aware what is normal to human behavior. you can then substitute natural with normal but mostly for human sensibilities. if a tree grows in an odd way we dont look at it as unnatural and if you are thinking foods are unnatural then i say that everything that went into that food came from nature.

Supernatural is extranatural. Beyond what we know at the present time is supernatural but still if it exists it is natural

[Liebling]

Natural can also mean; 5. Characterized by spontaneity and freedom from artificiality, affectation, or inhibitions. As in something that occurs naturally. Supernatural then being something undescribable or not understood, but understood to be a naturally occuring phenomena. To take out the natural, would make it artifical, affected or inhibited. Or, unreal.

The misnomer in the word supernatural is more the super portion, in that super has nothing to do with unknown or undescribable, but more to do with size or extreme.

I prefer the words preternatural, or unearthly myself.

[Fraggle Rocker]

* * * * NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR * * * *

On the SciForums website, which is a place of science, the definition of "supernatural" is:

Noun (the supernatural): a hypothetical universe, external and invisible to the natural universe, in which natural laws (and in some versions of the hypothesis even the rules of logic) do not apply.

Adjective: a hypothetical creature, force, condition, event, etc., which lives, exists or takes place within the supernatural universe, and in most versions of the hypothesis has the ability to affect the creatures, forces, conditions, events, etc. within the natural universe; sometimes this ability may be manifested as temporary visibility.

[John Connellan]

Does there have to be a supernatural universe or can supernatural forces etc. exist within the natural universe?

[Enmos]

Does there have to be a supernatural universe or can supernatural forces etc. exist within the natural universe?

Super means 'above'. So supernatural means above nature. As in outside of nature. It's nonsense.

[John99]

As in outside of nature.

That is wrong.

[Enmos]

That is wrong.

You're right. 'Outside of nature' doesn't exist.

[John99]

you dont know everything about nature. what you do not know is considered SUPERNATURAL...to you.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&hs=SEn&defl=en&q=define:super&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

[John99]

you are thinking in absolutes.

look at the Northern Lights. i am sure that ancient people viewed this as supernatural but now it is no longer the case.

http://images.google.com/images?client=opera&rls=en&q=northern%20lights&sourceid=opera&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

I really like this and can see where it is derived from:


In computer science, a superclass is a class from which other classes are derived. A superclass is also called a parent class. The classes that are derived from a superclass are known as child classes, derived classes, or subclasses. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_(computer_science)

[Enmos]

you are thinking in absolutes.

look at the Northern Lights. i am sure that ancient people viewed this as supernatural but now it is no longer the case.
Yeah, "they viewed it as supernatural". That doesn't mean that it was. It wasn't then and it isn't now.

http://images.google.com/images?client=opera&rls=en&q=northern%20lights&sourceid=opera&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

I really like this and can see where it is derived from:


In computer science, a superclass is a class from which other classes are derived. A superclass is also called a parent class. The classes that are derived from a superclass are known as child classes, derived classes, or subclasses. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_(computer_science)

That's not the way super in supernatural is meant.

su⋅per⋅nat⋅u⋅ral
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/supernatural

[Fraggle Rocker]

Does there have to be a supernatural universe or can supernatural forces etc. exist within the natural universe?According to the various hypotheses of the supernatural, supernatural forces and other phenomena can occasionally break through into the natural universe. In fact that is virtually canon for those hypotheses, since it provides the only purported evidence for the existence of such forces. However, any force that exists routinely within the natural universe must be regarded, by definition, as a natural force, and science is expected to explain and integrate it, if only because the evidence for its existence will be abundant.

Super means 'above'. So supernatural means above nature. As in outside of nature.Latin super is also used in popular coinages to mean "beyond," as in "superhuman." This is a more correct explanation of the way the word "supernatural" is interpreted in science, and on this website.It's nonsense.Please confine your discussions and debates on this board to issues having at least a vague connection to linguistics. The hard science boards and the philosophy board are better venues for debates about the universality of nature and the nature of the universe.you dont know everything about nature. what you do not know is considered SUPERNATURAL...to you.Okay, I've let each of you express your opinion once. That shall be the end of it. Any further argument along these lines is off topic. Go talk it over with the philosophers.In computer science, a superclass is a class from which other classes are derived. A superclass is also called a parent class. The classes that are derived from a superclass are known as child classes, derived classes, or subclasses.That's not the way "super-" in "supernatural" is meant.supernatural–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.Indeed.

[Enmos]

Latin super is also used in popular coinages to mean "beyond," as in "superhuman." This is a more correct explanation of the way the word "supernatural" is interpreted in science, and on this website.
That's actually what I meant. Thanks :)

Please confine your discussions and debates on this board to issues having at least a vague connection to linguistics. The hard science boards and the philosophy board are better venues for debates about nature and the universe.
Fair enough.