Philosophy is the study or creation of theories about basic things such as the nature of existence, knowledge, and thought, or about how people should live.
He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.
...traditional Chinese philosophy.
Synonyms: thought, reason, knowledge, thinking More Synonyms of philosophy
2. countable noun
A philosophy is a particular set of ideas that a philosopher has.
...the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. [+ of]
...a whole spectrum of political philosophies.
3. countable noun [NOUN that]
A philosophy is a particular theory that someone has about how to live or how to deal with a particular situation.
The best philosophy is to change your food habits to a low-sugar, high-fibre diet.
When I interviewed Shakira I felt in tune with her philosophy of life.
Annie's work reflects her philosophy that life is full of mysteries.
[Also + of]
More Synonyms of philosophy
philosophy in British English
(fɪˈlɒsəfɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-phies
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 or literary
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
Word origin
C13: from Old French filosofie, from Latin philosophia, from Greek, from philosophos lover of wisdom
philosophy in American English
(fɪˈlɑsəfi)
nounWord forms: pluralphiˈlosophies
1. Archaic
love of, or the search for, wisdom or knowledge
2.
theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the universe: included in philosophy are ethics, aesthetics, logic, epistemology, metaphysics, etc.
3.
the general principles or laws of a field of knowledge, activity, etc.
the philosophy of economics
4.
a.
a particular system of principles for the conduct of life
b.
a treatise covering such a system
5.
a study of human morals, character, and behavior
6.
mental balance or composure thought of as resulting from the study of philosophy
7. Obsolete
natural philosophy
Word origin
ME philosophie < OFr < L philosophia < Gr < philosophos: see philosopher
Examples of 'philosophy' in a sentence
philosophy
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
It is not a manual of history or political philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Has he moved beyond crisis management to put his own political philosophy into practice?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My life philosophy is to relish what you have, but always strive to better yourself.
The Sun (2017)
And he vowed City will not change their football philosophy despite their poor run.
The Sun (2016)
What has been obvious is that while some of the personnel may have changed, the philosophy has not.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I don't think his basic philosophy has changed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I'm very much into literature and philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They involve anything from how you eat, dress or live, to your life philosophy.
During the second half of the twentieth century there has been little real belief in this philosophy.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
What effort is being made to study their philosophy?
Asimov, Isaac The Complete Stories Volume 2 (1995)
This is how things work in philosophy.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Such is the irony of the march of political philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She studied philosophy and sought academic posts at universities.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
To change the manager means to change the whole philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What critical criminology needs is critical social theory and philosophy.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
They have a different way and a different philosophy of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The whole philosophy was about working work hard together and you saw that with us.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She has given almost no speeches on her political philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their inconsistency in away matches this season has not led to a change in philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The displacement of subject theory out of philosophy occurred a long time ago.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Reading at length in philosophy and literature, he found himself probing in depth for meaning.
Christianity Today (2000)
Generally, my philosophy on food is that the fewer processes it goes through the better.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is the subject of philosophy, literature and love.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What about the benefits of embracing a different culture, language and playing philosophy?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
As we sit and eat shaved cauliflower salad, she tells me about her food philosophy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In the end Cambridge accepted her to study philosophy without waiting for the results.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's a wonderful philosophy for an academic dean.
Kimball, Roger Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Higher Education (1990)
It is widely accepted that he came up with the basic layout and philosophy of the Beetle.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We crammed into the small kitchen, drank tea and talked politics, philosophy and music.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Quotations
Philosophy! the lumber of the schoolsJonathan SwiftOde to Sir W. Temple
Philosophy may teach us to bear with equanimity the misfortunes of our neighboursOscar WildeThe English Renaissance of Art
Philosophy is a good horse in the stable, but an arrant jade on a journeyOliver GoldsmithThe Good-Natur'd Man
A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religionFrancis BaconEssays
philosophy: a route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothingAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
Philosophy will clip an Angel's wingsJohn KeatsLamia
How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbèd, as dull fools suppose, But musical as Apollo's luteJohn MiltonComus
In other languages
philosophy
British English: philosophy /fɪˈlɒsəfɪ/ NOUN
Philosophy is the study or creation of theories about basic things such as the nature of existence or how people should live.
...traditional Chinese philosophy.
American English: philosophy
Arabic: فَلْسَفَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: filosofia
Chinese: 哲学
Croatian: filozofija
Czech: filozofie
Danish: filosofi
Dutch: filosofie
European Spanish: filosofía
Finnish: filosofia
French: philosophie
German: Philosophie
Greek: φιλοσοφία
Italian: filosofia
Japanese: 哲学
Korean: 철학
Norwegian: filosofi
Polish: filozofia
European Portuguese: filosofia
Romanian: filozofie
Russian: философия
Latin American Spanish: filosofía
Swedish: filosofi
Thai: ปรัชญา
Turkish: felsefe
Ukrainian: філософія
Vietnamese: triết học
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'philosophy'
moral philosophy
the branch of philosophy dealing with both argument about the content of morality and meta-ethical discussion of the nature of moral judgment , language, argument, and value
natural philosophy
(now only used in Scottish universities) physical science, esp physics
analytical philosophy
a school of philosophy which flourished in the first half of the 20th century and which sought to resolve philosophical problems by analysing the language in which they are expressed, esp in terms of formal logic as in Russell's theory of descriptions
analytic philosophy
a 20th-cent. philosophic movement characterized by its method of analyzing concepts and statements in the light of common experience and ordinary language so as to eliminate confusions of thought and resolve many traditional philosophical problems
linguistic philosophy
the approach to philosophy common in the mid 20th century that tends to see philosophical problems as arising from inappropriate theoretical use of language and therefore as being resolved by detailed attention to the common use of expressions
philosophy of life
any philosophical view or vision of the nature or purpose of life or of the way that life should be lived
scholastic philosophy
the system of philosophy , theology , and teaching that dominated medieval western Europe and was based on the writings of the Church Fathers and (from the 12th century) Aristotle , the Greek philosopher (384–322 bc )
Doctor of Philosophy
A Doctor of Philosophy is someone who has a → PhD .
Chinese translation of 'philosophy'
philosophy
(fɪˈlɔsəfɪ)
n
(u) (= subject) 哲学(學) (zhéxué)
(c) (= set of ideas)[of philosopher]哲学(學)体(體)系 (zhéxué tǐxì) (个(個), gè)
(c) (= personal beliefs) 人生观(觀) (rénshēngguān) (种(種), zhǒng)
1 (noun)
Definition
the particular doctrines of a specific individual or school relating to these issues
He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.
Synonyms
thought
It is my thought that the situation will be resolved.
reason
a conflict between emotion and reason
knowledge
She didn't intend to display her knowledge, at least not yet.
thinking
There was a strong theoretical dimension to his thinking.
reasoning
the reasoning behind the decision
wisdom
Her music is rooted in European harmonies but also infused with Eastern wisdom.
logic
The plan was based on sound commercial logic.
metaphysics
2 (noun)
Definition
a personal outlook or viewpoint
his philosophy of non-violence
Synonyms
outlook
values
principles
convictions
thinking
beliefs
doctrine
ideology
capitalist ideology
viewpoint
tenets
world view
basic idea
attitude to life
Weltanschauung (German)
3 (noun)
Synonyms
stoicism
They bore their plight with stoicism and fortitude.
resignation
restraint
composure
Stopping briefly to regain her composure, she described her ordeal.
serenity
a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity
coolness
They praised him for his coolness under pressure.
calmness
She faced her ordeal with admirable calmness.
equanimity
He faced his defeat with equanimity.
self-possession
dispassion
subject word lists
See Philosophical schools and doctrinesSee Philosophers
Quotations
Philosophy! the lumber of the schools [Jonathan Swift – Ode to Sir W. Temple]Philosophy may teach us to bear with equanimity the misfortunes of our neighbours [Oscar Wilde – The English Renaissance of Art]Philosophy is a good horse in the stable, but an arrant jade on a journey [Oliver Goldsmith – The Good-Natur'd Man]A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion [Francis Bacon – Essays]philosophy: a route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings [John Keats – Lamia]How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbèd, as dull fools suppose, But musical as Apollo's lute [John Milton – Comus]
Seemoderation
Synonyms of 'philosophy'
philosophy
Explore 'philosophy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of equanimity
Definition
calmness of mind or temper
He faced his defeat with equanimity.
Synonyms
composure,
peace,
calm,
poise,
serenity,
tranquillity,
coolness,
aplomb,
calmness,
phlegm,
steadiness,
presence of mind,
sang-froid,
self-possession,
placidity,
level-headedness,
imperturbability
in the sense of ideology
Definition
the body of ideas and beliefs of a person, group, or nation
capitalist ideology
Synonyms
belief(s),
ideas,
principles,
ideals,
opinion,
philosophy,
doctrine,
creed,
dogma,
tenets,
world view,
credence,
articles of faith,
Weltanschauung
in the sense of knowledge
Definition
the facts or experiences known by a person or group of people
She didn't intend to display her knowledge, at least not yet.
Synonyms
learning,
schooling,
education,
science,
intelligence,
instruction,
wisdom,
scholarship,
tuition,
enlightenment,
erudition
in the sense of logic
Definition
reasoned thought or argument, as distinguished from irrationality
The plan was based on sound commercial logic.
Synonyms
reason,
reasoning,
sense,
good reason,
good sense,
sound judgment
in the sense of reason
Definition
sanity
a conflict between emotion and reason
Synonyms
sense,
mind,
reasoning,
understanding,
brains,
judgment,
logic,
mentality,
intellect,
comprehension,
apprehension,
sanity,
rationality,
soundness,
sound mind,
ratiocination
in the sense of reasoning
Definition
the process of drawing conclusions from facts or evidence
the reasoning behind the decision
Synonyms
thinking,
thought,
reason,
analysis,
logic,
deduction,
cogitation,
ratiocination
in the sense of serenity
a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity
Synonyms
calm,
peace,
tranquillity,
composure,
peace of mind,
stillness,
calmness,
quietness,
peacefulness,
quietude,
placidity
in the sense of thinking
Definition
the process of thought
There was a strong theoretical dimension to his thinking.
Synonyms
reasoning,
thoughts,
philosophy,
idea,
view,
position,
theory,
opinion,
conclusions,
assessment,
judgment,
outlook,
conjecture
in the sense of wisdom
Definition
accumulated knowledge or learning
Her music is rooted in European harmonies but also infused with Eastern wisdom.