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.
Beginning about 1175 CE, the word mostly came from Old French and Anglo-Norman into the English language. The Latin philosophia is the source of the French philosophie as well. Philosophy has taken on the meanings of “advanced study of the speculative subjects (logic, ethics, physics, and metaphysics)”, “deep wisdom consisting of love of truth and virtuous living”, “profound learning as transmitted by the ancient writers”, as well as “the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, and the basic limits of human understanding”.
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?