pataphysics

  1. Home
  2. top of the aat hierarchies
  3. Associated Concepts Facet
  4. Associated Concepts (hierarchy name)
  5. [concepts in the arts and humanities]
  6. [historical, theoretical, and critical concepts]
  7. pataphysics
Scope note
Refers to a philosophy of the absurd, or knowledge that eludes rational notions of causation or scientific inquiry. Coinage of the term is attributed to the writer Alfred Jarry to describe a "science of imaginary solutions." The concept, though originally speculative or fictional, has inspired publications, artworks, a literary school, and a society known as the Collège de 'pataphysique.
pataphysics
Accepted term: 18-Nov-2024