philosophy

EnglishEdit

 
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Alternative formsEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English philosophie, Old French philosophie, and their source, Latin philosophia, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía), from φίλος (phílos, loving) + σοφία (sophía, wisdom). Synchronically, philo- +‎ -sophy. Displaced native Old English ūþwitegung.

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

philosophy (countable and uncountable, plural philosophies)

  1. (uncountable, originally) The love of wisdom.
  2. (uncountable) An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism.
    Philosophy is often divided into five major branches: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and aesthetics.
  3. (countable) A comprehensive system of belief.
  4. (countable) A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain.
    a philosophy of government;   a philosophy of education
  5. (countable) A general principle (usually moral).
    • 2012, Francesca Valensise, From Building Fabric to City Form: Reconstruction in Calabria at end of Eighteenth Century[1], Gangemi Editore spa, →ISBN, page 8:
      As a matter of fact the Enlightment culture was based on a philosophy inspired to an ethical laicism whose aim was to create a better society based on principles such as solidarity, equality of rights and duties, and full freedom.
  6. (archaic) A broader branch of (non-applied) science.
  7. A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper.
  8. (printing, dated) Synonym of small pica (especially in French printing).
    • 2010, Thomas Wharton, Salamander, Emblem Editions, →ISBN:
      Although I prefer small pica. Or as its[sic] sometimes known, philosophy.
      Small pica, or philosophy, she said. It sounds like the title of a novel. With a girl heroine.

MeronymsEdit

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

TranslationsEdit

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VerbEdit

philosophy (third-person singular simple present philosophies, present participle philosophying, simple past and past participle philosophied)

  1. (now rare) To philosophize.

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Further readingEdit

  • "philosophy" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 235.