philosophy Definition
phi·loso·phy (fi läs′ə fē)
noun pl. -·phies
- Archaic love of, or the search for, wisdom or knowledge
- theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the universe: included in philosophy are ethics, aesthetics, logic, epistemology, metaphysics, etc.
- the general principles or laws of a field of knowledge, activity, etc. the philosophy of economics
- a particular system of principles for the conduct of life
- a treatise covering such a system
- a study of human morals, character, and behavior
- mental balance or composure thought of as resulting from the study of philosophy
- Obsolete natural philosophy
Etymology: ME philosophie < OFr < L philosophia < Gr < philosophos: see philosopher
philosophy Synonyms
philosophy
n.
The study of knowledge
theory, reasoned doctrine, explanation of phenomena, logical concept, systematic view, theory of knowledge, early science, natural philosophy; see also knowledge 1.Fields of philosophy include: aesthetics, logic, ethics, ontology, cosmology, metaphysics, epistemology, psychology, axiology.
Schools of philosophy include: Egyptian, Confucianism, Ionian, Milesian, Pythagorean, Eleatic, Sophist, Cyrenaic, Cynic, Megarian, Platonic, Aristotelian, Epicurean, Stoic, Skeptic, Gnostic, Neo-Platonic, Eclectic, Patristic, Arabian, Jewish, Cabalist, Scholastic, Modern, Marxist.
Philosophic attitudes include: idealism, realism, stoicism, deism, existentialism, nihilism, mechanism, naturalism, determinism, natural realism, intuitionism, utilitarianism, teleology, nominalism, conceptualism, pragmatism, monism, dualism, egoism, pluralism, pejorism, Kantianism, Hegelianism, logical empiricism, absolutism, transcendentalism, logical positivism.
A fundamental principle
A personal attitude or belief
outlook, view, worldview, Weltanschauung (German); see belief 1, opinion 1, viewpoint.
philosophy Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- mathematics: Randy would appear to be at this point in forming his philosophy of mathematics.
- science: Each research method is linked to a perspective or a philosophy of science.
- religion: No one work brings them together into a systematically organized " philosophy of religion.
- mind: Options: A range of options, covering more specialized topics in epistemology and the philosophy of mind, will be offered each year.
- meaninglessness: For myself, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation, sexual and political.
Converse of object
- espouse: Anyone who espouses the philosophy assigned to the Pythagoreans by Aristotle can be regarded as a Pythagorean.
- embrace: Working in Partnership with our Local Communities and the Environment We embrace a strong customer service philosophy.
- adopt: They believed, if readers adopted this philosophy, they would feel as fabulous as the people in the ads.
Adjective modifier
- analytic: Does the free marriage owe anything to the analytic philosophy?
- moral: Also offers a biography of Tolstoy, discussing the authors ' moral philosophy.
- Greek: Philo taught that Greek philosophy had been plagiarized from Moses.
- underlying: What, if any moral or underlying philosophy, underpins your fiction?
- continental: It will present a perspective on epistemology that overcomes the existing divides between analytical and continental philosophy.
- Western: This theme, of the publicly recorded good death, lies at the historical root of Western philosophy in the person of Socrates.
Noun used with modifier
- Buddhist: According to Buddhist philosophy, contact with ' other ' can be a source of great confusion and pain.
- materialist: Harsh materialist philosophy revolutionary truths are what need putting forward, -- constantly, -- regardless of who might feel offended.
- existentialist: Online guide to existentialist philosophy and writers ( Sartre, Camus, Dostoyevsky, etc.
- pagan: And anyway, Augustine hadn't studied pagan philosophy had he?
- enlightenment: Enlightenment philosophy, whilst also humanist in nature, was based on the rejection of divine authority and associated itself with science and reason.
- fallibilist: We see parallels in Randy's emerging fallibilist philosophy of mathematics and his changing instructional practice.
Browse dictionary entries near philosophy
- ‹ philosophize
- ‹ philosophical
- ‹ philosophic
- ‹ philosopher
- ‹ philosophe
- ‹ philos
- ‹ philoprogenitive
- ‹ Philomela
- ‹ philomel
- ‹ philology

