philosophy Hear it!

philosophy Definition

phi·loso·phy (fi läsə fē)

noun pl. -·phies

  1. Archaic love of, or the search for, wisdom or knowledge
  2. 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.
  3. the general principles or laws of a field of knowledge, activity, etc. the philosophy of economics
    1. a particular system of principles for the conduct of life
    2. a treatise covering such a system
  4. a study of human morals, character, and behavior
  5. mental balance or composure thought of as resulting from the study of philosophy
  6. Obsolete natural philosophy

Etymology: ME philosophie < OFr < L philosophia < Gr < philosophos: see philosopher

philosophy Synonyms

philosophy

n.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. A fundamental principle

    truth, axiom, conception; see basis 1, law 4, theory 1.

  5. 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

  1. philosophize
  2. philosophical
  3. philosophic
  4. philosopher
  5. philosophe
  6. philos
  7. philoprogenitive
  8. Philomela
  9. philomel
  10. philology
  1. -philous
  2. philter
  3. philtrum
  4. phimosis
  5. Phineas
  6. Phishing
  7. phiz
  8. phlebitis
  9. phlebo-
  10. phlebology