About Metaphysical Components of Scientific Pictures of the World

This article describes the problem of metaphysical components of scientific pictures of the world. It is possible to analyze it both from a perspective of the history of science and the relationship between metaphysics and science. The author builds the conceptual framework of the probable relationship between metaphysics and science in the form of questions: can metaphysics exist as accurately credible knowledge, and if such an influence is even possible, do metaphysics and empirical science influence each other. The answer to the first question allows us to indicate anti-metaphysical scientism. The answer to the second question enables us to highlight either the complete independence of science and metaphysics or the priority of metaphysics over science (Aristotelian-medieval picture of the world) or the priority of science over metaphysics (present-day picture of the world). Metaphysics is intended to be something more than just a set of tools used to adapt to the consequences of the development of science. We illustrate this last point by discussing some metaphysical principles (heterogeneity, homogeneity, plenism, vacuism) in the context of various pictures of the world. Due to the large volume and breadth of the topic, the article is selective in using the material.