1. A philosophical movement and literary school founded by Alfred Jarry that treats the absurd and imaginary as real, often through humor and unconventional logic; the science of imaginary solutions.
Usage: often capitalized as Pataphysics; primarily used in literary and artistic contexts; associated with Dadaism and Surrealism

Examples

• Pataphysics emerged in late 19th-century France as a reaction against conventional philosophy.
• The artist's work embraced pataphysics by treating impossible scenarios as everyday occurrences.
• Jarry's play 'Ubu Roi' is considered a foundational text of pataphysics.
• The movement's playful approach to logic influenced many 20th-century avant-garde artists.
• Pataphysics celebrates the ridiculous and the imaginary as valid subjects of serious study.