In this branch of knowledge analogy, “Physiology is to Biology as Metaphysics is to ______”. Choose the discipline to which metaphysics belongs in the same way physiology belongs to biology.

Introduction / Context:
This analogy compares branches of study to their parent disciplines. The pair “Physiology : Biology” shows that physiology is a branch within the wider field of biology. The question then asks us to identify which broader field metaphysics belongs to. Such questions test general awareness of academic disciplines and their relationships, which is useful for aptitude and general knowledge exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Physiology is a branch that studies functions of living organisms and their parts. • Biology is the larger science of life, including structure, function, growth, and evolution of living things. • Metaphysics is named as the second term that must be related to a broader area. • Options: physics, statistics, mathematics, philosophy. • We assume standard academic classifications used in school and college curricula.

Concept / Approach:
Physiology is one of many subfields of biology, just as zoology and botany are. So the first pair shows a “branch of science : parent science” relationship. We must now recall what metaphysics is. Metaphysics is a major branch of philosophy that explores fundamental questions about reality, existence, causality, and the nature of being. It does not belong to physics, statistics, or mathematics, but to philosophy. Therefore, just as physiology is a part of biology, metaphysics is a part of philosophy.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Clarify the first pair. Physiology is not equal to biology but is contained within it. It focuses on bodily functions like respiration, circulation, and digestion, all under the larger umbrella of biology. Step 2: Identify the pattern: “branch or subfield : major field”. Step 3: Recall the meaning of metaphysics. It is concerned with questions such as what exists, what it means for something to be real, and how things are related at the deepest level. These are philosophical, not purely scientific or mathematical, questions. Step 4: Examine the options. Physics is an empirical science about matter and energy. Statistics is a branch of mathematics about data. Mathematics itself is the abstract study of numbers, structures, and patterns. Philosophy is the discipline that studies fundamental questions about knowledge, existence, values, and logic. Metaphysics is a classical branch of philosophy. Step 5: Therefore, the relationship is “Metaphysics : Philosophy” to mirror “Physiology : Biology”.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can express the analogy in explanatory sentences. Physiology is a branch of biology. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy. Both pairs then share the same structure. No other option allows such a natural and academically accurate sentence. It would be incorrect to say “Metaphysics is a branch of physics” because physics deals with measurable physical phenomena, while metaphysics deals with abstract questions often beyond direct measurement. This makes philosophy the only valid parent discipline.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Physics: Although the word resembles metaphysics, the subjects are different. Physics is a natural science; metaphysics is a philosophical area. • Statistics: A mathematical field dealing with data analysis, unrelated to metaphysical questions about reality. • Mathematics: An abstract science, but metaphysics does not study numbers or shapes; it studies existence and reality at a conceptual level.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners are misled by the similarity in the words physics and metaphysics and assume a direct connection. However, metaphysics historically came after the treatise on physics in classical philosophical works, which is how the name arose, not because it is a subfield of physics. Remembering that metaphysics is a famous branch of philosophy helps avoid this confusion and leads to the correct choice quickly.

Final Answer:
The field that completes the analogy is Philosophy.