Preternatural
Encyclopedia
The preternatural or praeternatural is that which appears outside or beyond (Latin præter) the natural
. In contrast to the supernatural
, preternatural phenomena are presumed to have rational explanations that are, as of yet, unknown.
The term is often used to distinguish from the divine
(supernatural) while maintaining a distinction from known and understood nature in any given culture and time period. For instance, in the Abrahamic religions, the angel
s, both holy and fallen, are endowed with preternatural powers. Their intellect, speed, and other characteristics are explained to be beyond the capabilities of humans, but still limited or finite
.
Non-human examples of preternatural powers are also recognized in mythology and folklore. An example of a preternatural creature would be if the Yeti
or Bigfoot
legends had a basis in fact
.
A three venue art exhibition entitled Preternatural took place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada curated by Dr. Celina Jeffery.
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
. In contrast to the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
, preternatural phenomena are presumed to have rational explanations that are, as of yet, unknown.
The term is often used to distinguish from the divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
(supernatural) while maintaining a distinction from known and understood nature in any given culture and time period. For instance, in the Abrahamic religions, the angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s, both holy and fallen, are endowed with preternatural powers. Their intellect, speed, and other characteristics are explained to be beyond the capabilities of humans, but still limited or finite
Finite
Finite is the opposite of infinite. It may refer to:*Finite set, having a number of elements given by some natural number*Finite verb, being inflected for person and for tense...
.
Non-human examples of preternatural powers are also recognized in mythology and folklore. An example of a preternatural creature would be if the Yeti
Yeti
The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology...
or Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
legends had a basis in fact
Gigantopithecus
Gigantopithecus is an extinct genus of ape that existed from roughly one million years to as recently as three hundred thousand years ago, in what is now China, India, and Vietnam, placing Gigantopithecus in the same time frame and geographical location as several hominin species...
.
A three venue art exhibition entitled Preternatural took place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada curated by Dr. Celina Jeffery.
External links
- "What is the difference between natural, preternatural and supernatural?" Possession and Exorcism, J.A. Fortea
- "Supernatural, preternatural, supranatural, unnatural" The Columbia Guide to Standard American English at Bartleby.com