philosophy
UK /fɪˈlɒs.ə.fi/ · US /fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/ noun, verb
Forms philosophies philosophying philosophied philosophie phylosophie phylosophy
- noun (uncountable) An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as existence and rationality. “Philosophy is often divided into five major branches: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and aesthetics.”
- noun (countable) A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain. “a philosophy of government; a philosophy of education”
- noun (countable) A general principle (usually moral).
- noun (countable) A comprehensive system of belief.
- noun (uncountable, originally, now rare) The love of wisdom.
- noun (uncountable, dated) A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper.
- noun (printing, dated) Synonym of small pica (especially in French printing).
- noun (countable, archaic) A broader branch of (non-applied) science. “natural philosophy”
- verb (now rare) To philosophize.
Synonyms
worldview ethos doctrine ideology small pica philosophical system school of thought ism
Etymology
From Middle English philosophie, Old French philosophie, and their source, Latin philosophia, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía), from φίλος (phílos, “loving”) + σοφία (sophía, “wisdom”). By surface analysis, philo- + -sophy. Displaced Old English ūþwitegung.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Literally, the love of, including the search after, wisdom; in actual usage, the knowledge of phenomena as explained by, and resolved into, causes and reasons, powers and laws.
- noun A particular philosophical system or theory; the hypothesis by which particular phenomena are explained.
Etymology [OE. philosophie, F. philosophie, L. philosophia, from Gr. Philosopher.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “philosophy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details