philosophy

[ fi-los-uh-fee ]

noun

, plural phi·los·o·phies.

1. the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
2. any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.
3. a particular system of thought based on such study or investigation:

   the philosophy of Spinoza.

4. the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, especially with a view to improving or reconstituting them:

   the philosophy of science.

5. a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.
6. an attitude of rationality, patience, composure, and calm in the presence of troubles or annoyances.

philosophy

/ fɪˈlɒsəfɪ /

noun

1. the academic discipline concerned with making explicit the nature and significance of ordinary and scientific beliefs and investigating the intelligibility of concepts by means of rational argument concerning their presuppositions, implications, and interrelationships; in particular, the rational investigation of the nature and structure of reality (metaphysics), the resources and limits of knowledge (epistemology), the principles and import of moral judgment (ethics), and the relationship between language and reality (semantics)
2. the particular doctrines relating to these issues of some specific individual or school

   the philosophy of Descartes

3. the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a discipline

   the philosophy of law

4. archaic.
   the investigation of natural phenomena, esp alchemy, astrology, and astronomy
5. any system of belief, values, or tenets
6. a personal outlook or viewpoint
7. serenity of temper

philosophy

1. A study that attempts to discover the fundamental principles of the sciences, the arts, and the world that the sciences and arts deal with; the word philosophy is from the Greek for “love of wisdom.” Philosophy has many branches that explore principles of specific areas, such as knowledge ( epistemology ), reasoning ( logic ), being in general ( metaphysics ), beauty ( aesthetics ), and human conduct ( ethics ). Different approaches to philosophy are also called philosophies. ( See also epicureanism , existentialism , idealism , materialism , nihilism , pragmatism , stoicism , and utilitarianism .)

Other Words From

• anti·phi·loso·phy adjective noun plural antiphilosophies
• nonphi·loso·phy noun plural nonphilosophies

Word History and Origins

Origin of philosophy¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English philosophie, from Latin philosophia, from Greek philosophía; philo-, -sophy

Word History and Origins

Origin of philosophy¹

C13: from Old French filosofie, from Latin philosophia, from Greek, from philosophos lover of wisdom

Example Sentences

Tom Cotton credits Harvard as the place where he “discovered political philosophy as a way of life.”

From The Daily Beast

His philosophy is Everything to Someone rather than Something for Everyone.

From The Daily Beast

The course Jackson taught at VMI, “Natural and Experimental Philosophy,” was brutally difficult.

From The Daily Beast

Each step of the way, Booker has thrived on the philosophy that your actions matter more than what you preach.

From The Daily Beast

But Moglen, an Internet scholar, has developed something closer to a philosophy.

From The Daily Beast

It lacks convincingness perhaps from the fact that Thomass theology is so largely philosophy, as Roger Bacon said.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course not,” said Wilkins, “proverbial philosophy asserts and requires that doctors should disagree.

From Project Gutenberg

But he thought of the inexorable beating of that pulse of life—of life, and the will to live as her philosophy desired.

From Project Gutenberg

Such being the adjustment, the philosophy of the inhalation may be easily understood.

From Project Gutenberg

Kilkelly was an excellent travelling companion, readily pleased, and taking things as they came with easy philosophy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attitude
• doctrine
• idea
• ideology
• logic
• outlook
• reasoning
• system
• tenet
• theory
• thinking
• thought
• truth
• view
• viewpoint
• wisdom