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Definition of Philosophy by Different Philosophers

Etymology of Philosophy

Branches of Philosophy

Many thinkers and intellectuals have defined philosophy from different philosophical perspectives. Looking at the definitions they revealed their viewpoints about philosophy. Philosophers have explained philosophy in a number of ways throughout history. A few of the most well-known are listed below:

  • According to Aristotle: Philosophical inquiry seeks to understand the true nature of supernatural substances.
  • As said by Levison: “Philosophy is mental activity”.
  • As stated by Karl Marks: “Philosophy is the interpretation of the world in order to change it”.
  • As stated by Hegel: “Philosophy is that which grasps its own era in thought.”
  • According to Immanuel Kant: The definition of philosophy is “the science and criticism of cognition.”
  • As stated by Russell: “Philosophy proper deals with matters of interest to the general educated public, and loses much of its value if only a few professionals can understand it.”
  • As stated by Henderson: “Philosophy is a rigorous, disciplined, guarded analysis of some of the most difficult problems which men have ever faced.”
  • According to Dewey: “Philosophy is not a panacea (remedy for all kinds of diseases/troubles) for the problems of men, but is that which emerges out of the method employed by them to solve their problems.”
  • Aristippus considers: “The ability to feel at ease in any society” is what philosophy is all about.
  • As said by Socrates: “Philosophy is a daily activity”.
  • As said by Phenix: “Science looks solely for new facts to find. Fact-finding is not of interest to philosophy. Instead, it is only concerned with facts as long as they may be used to inform a viewpoint. It attempts to arrange, construe, elucidate, and critique the scientific facts that have already been revealed.”

Philosophy Definition, Meaning, Branches & History

The term Philosophy means “love of wisdom.” Philosophy, in its broadest meaning, is the study of understanding basic truths about oneself, the world around them, and one’s place in it as well as in interactions with others. Philosophy is similar to an academic discipline in many ways. Philosophy students are constantly posing, responding to, and debating the most fundamental problems of life. In academic philosophy, key fields of study are generally separated to facilitate a more systematic exploration of the subject.

Table of Content

  • What is Philosophy?
  • Etymology of Philosophy
  • Definition of Philosophy by Different Philosophers
  • Branches of Philosophy
  • History of Philosophy
  • FAQs – What is Philosophy?

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What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is the rational, abstract, and methodical study of reality as a whole or of the essential aspects of human existence and experience. The word comes from Greek via Latin, philosophia, which means “love of wisdom.” A key aspect of the intellectual history of many civilizations is philosophical investigation....

Etymology of Philosophy

Philosophy originates from the ancient Greek terms ‘Philos’ meaning ‘love’ and ‘Sophia’ meaning ‘knowledge’. Although this is not confirmed, some sources claim that Pythagoras, a Presocratic philosopher, was the one who first used the phrase....

Definition of Philosophy by Different Philosophers

Many thinkers and intellectuals have defined philosophy from different philosophical perspectives. Looking at the definitions they revealed their viewpoints about philosophy. Philosophers have explained philosophy in a number of ways throughout history. A few of the most well-known are listed below:...

Branches of Philosophy

Towards the conclusion of the modern era, philosophy took on a more constrained meaning that is still in use today. The term’s primary associations in this new meaning are with philosophical fields including metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. It covers the rational examination of reality, knowledge, and values among other things. It differs, therefore, from other rational inquiry fields like mathematics and the empirical sciences. The four main areas of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic:...

History of Philosophy

The history of philosophy as a field seeks to provide a systematic and historical presentation of philosophical concepts and doctrines. Western, Arabic-Persian, Indian, and Chinese philosophy are the primary philosophical branches of history. African philosophy, Latin American philosophy, and Japanese philosophy are further major philosophical traditions....

Conclusion

In conclusion, philosophy studies are frequently driven not just by the arguments and answers themselves, but also by the question of whether or not they are sound arguments and convincing conclusions. Furthermore, a lot of the concerns and questions raised by the many branches of philosophy overlap and occasionally even coincide. Thus, philosophical issues come up in practically every field of study. Studying philosophy involves not only coming up with one’s own responses to these kinds of questions but also trying to understand the responses that others have already provided. Thus, the history of philosophy—a history of responses to and debates over these very issues—represents an important part of philosophy....

FAQs – What is Philosophy?

1. What is philosophy in simple words?...

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Etymology of Philosophy

Branches of Philosophy