View synonyms for philosophy

philosophy

[ fi-los-uh-fee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural phi·los·o·phies.

the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.
a particular system of thought based on such study or investigation:
the philosophy of Spinoza.
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.
a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.
an attitude of rationality, patience, composure, and calm in the presence of troubles or annoyances.

philosophy

/ fɪˈlɒsəfɪ /

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)
the particular doctrines relating to these issues of some specific individual or school
the philosophy of Descartes
the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a discipline
the philosophy of law
archaic.
the investigation of natural phenomena, esp alchemy, astrology, and astronomy
any system of belief, values, or tenets
a personal outlook or viewpoint
serenity of temper

philosophy

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 .)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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