philosophy

English

Alternative forms

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.

    Pronunciation

    • (UK) IPA(key): /fɪˈlɒ.sə.fi/
    • (General American) IPA(key): /fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/
      • Audio (General American):(file)
    • (Indic) IPA(key): /pʰɪˈlɔsəpʰi/, /pʰɪlo.sɔpʰi/
    • Hyphenation: phi‧los‧o‧phy

    Noun

    philosophy (countable and uncountable, plural philosophies)

    1. (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.
      • 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond‎[1]:
        During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]
    2. (countable) A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain.
      Synonyms: worldview, ethos
      a philosophy of government;   a philosophy of education
    3. (countable) A general principle (usually moral).
      • 2012, Francesca Valensise, From Building Fabric to City Form: Reconstruction in Calabria at end of Eighteenth Century‎[2], Gangemi Editore spa, →ISBN, page 8:
        As a matter of fact the Enlightment culture was based on a philosophy inspired to an ethical laicism whose aim was to create a better society based on principles such as solidarity, equality of rights and duties, and full freedom.
    4. (countable) A comprehensive system of belief.
      Synonyms: doctrine, ideology
    5. (uncountable, originally, now rare) The love of wisdom.
    6. (uncountable, dated) A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper.
    7. (printing, dated) Synonym of small pica (especially in French printing).
      • 2010, Thomas Wharton, Salamander, Emblem Editions, →ISBN:
        Although I prefer small pica. Or as its[sic] sometimes known, philosophy.
        – Small pica, or philosophy, she said. It sounds like the title of a novel. With a girl heroine.
    8. (countable, archaic) A broader branch of (non-applied) science.
      natural philosophy

    Hyponyms

    Meronyms

    Derived terms

    Translations

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    Translations to be checked

    See also

    Verb

    philosophy (third-person singular simple present philosophies, present participle philosophying, simple past and past participle philosophied)

    1. (now rare) To philosophize.

    See also

    • Appendix:Glossary of philosophical isms
    • ideology

    References

    Further reading

    Middle English

    Noun

    philosophy

    1. (Late Middle English) alternative form of philosophie
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