there are a hierarchical relationship between there branches as can be seen in the concept chart. at the root in metaphysics, the study of existence and the nature of existence. closely related is epistemology, the study of knowledge and how we know about reality and existence. dependent on epistemology is ethics, the study of how man should act. ethics is dependent on epistemology because it is impossible to make choice without knowledge. a subset of ethics is politics: the study of how men should interact in proper society and what constitutes proper. Esthetics, the study of art and sense of life is slightly separate, but depends on metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics