speculative philosophy

American  

noun

1. philosophy embodying beliefs insusceptible of proof and attempting to gain insight into the nature of the ultimate by intuitive or a priori means.

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Etymology

Origin of speculative philosophy

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The Abbasid rulers also faced religious divisions and criticism, even as the cosmopolitan nature of the caliphate sparked the growth of speculative philosophy and rationalizing thought.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

If “Clarissa” is an epistolary novel, then so, really, is “The Post Card” — and then half of “Tristram Shandy” is speculative philosophy.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2022

It is not the product of philosophic meditation or of speculative philosophy.

From The Arena Volume 18, No. 93, August, 1897 by Various

Such a heterogeneous mixture demonstrates the pass to which speculative philosophy had come, and shows us clearly that her disciples had abandoned her in despair.

From History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2) Revised Edition by Draper, John William

By their aid speculative philosophy was rapidly disseminated everywhere, as was subsequently Christianity.

From History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2) Revised Edition by Draper, John William