Supernatural

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/supernatural

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the etymological root?Medieval Latin 'supernaturalis', from 'super' (above, beyond) and 'natura' (nature)
2. What is the categorization of manifestations?Includes non-physical entities (spirits, deities) and purported abilities (magic, telekinesis, precognition)
3. What does the word supernatural mean?Supernatural means things that are above or outside the normal rules of nature. It includes magic, ghosts, and other special forces that we can't see or explain with science.
4. Why do people think about supernatural beings like ghosts and angels?People think about them because they help explain mysteries, give comfort, and give us ideas about life, death, and purpose that science can't answer.

Transcendence: The state of existing above or beyond the limits of material existence or physical laws.
Empirical Verification: The process of confirming or disproving a statement or theory through observation and experimentation.
Cosmology: The study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe; a model of the universe.