Introverted Metaphysics (Mi), as delineated in the framework of the metaphysical function, orients an individual toward a singular, eternal, and unchanging essence that underlies the apparent diversity and flux of reality. Exemplified by traditions like Parmenides’ philosophy and the Vedantic teachings of the Upanishads, Mi perceives the world through an inward-focused lens, seeking a unified truth that transcends the transient and fragmented nature of external phenomena. As a metaphysical function, Mi operates on a more abstract and comprehensive level than the immanent cognitive functions—sensation, intuition, thinking, and feeling—shaping a person’s worldview by anchoring it in a timeless, indivisible reality. This orientation influences how individuals interpret existence, find meaning, and engage with the world, offering a profound perspective that prioritizes permanence over process.
The hallmark of Mi is its emphasis on a stable, eternal foundation beneath the shifting surface of life. Parmenides argued for a homogeneous “what is,” a reality that does not change or divide, dismissing multiplicity and motion as mere illusions of perception. Similarly, the Upanishads posit Brahman as the ultimate, non-dual essence, an unchanging unity that pervades all things despite the illusory play of maya—the world of diversity and change. For someone with a strongly developed Mi, this conviction becomes the cornerstone of their worldview. They see the chaos and impermanence of daily life—birth, death, conflict, and transformation—as superficial, masking a deeper, abiding truth. A storm may rage, relationships may falter, and empires may fall, but beneath it all, Mi perceives an unshakable oneness that endures.