Abstract
Metaphysics is, historically as well as systematically, mostly taken to be the inquiry into
reality, insofar it is considered to be: (1) the totality of everything there is; (2) of everything
that exists; or (3) what is fundamental. This paper sets out to analyze the relation between all
three metaphysical core notions and sketch the landscape of metaphysical theories that
emerges from it. Taking The Fundamental, The Existent, and Totality to be the domains
corresponding to each metaphysical object of inquiry, it is argued that they stand in the settheoretical
relations of: The Fundamental ⊆ The Existent ⊆ Totality. This general structure
allows for a plurality of more detailed structures when we differentiate between the ones that
treat at least two notions as extensionally equal and those that take them to be proper subsets.
Furthermore, reductive and inflationary strategies between equating two of the notions will
be differentiated, allowing for a detailed sketch of the landscape of metaphysical theories and
their views on the nature of reality. In closing, it is argued that the metaphysical structure
allowing for most differentiation in metaphysical status is to be preferred as it allows to
adequately capture metaphysical disputes, constituting evidence for the importance of each
metaphysical notion and a short plea against their conflation.