Encyclopedia

philosophy

philosophy [Gr.,=love of wisdom], study of the ultimate reality, causes, and principles underlying being and thinking. It has many aspects and different manifestations according to the problems involved and the method of approach and emphasis used by the individual philosopher. This article deals with the nature and development of Western philosophical thought. Eastern philosophy, while founded in religion, contains rigorously developed systems; for these, see Buddhism; Confucianism; Hinduism; Islam; Jainism; Shinto; Taoism; Vedanta; and related articles.

Sections in this article:

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

More on philosophy from Fact Monster:

  • eclecticism, in philosophy - eclecticism eclecticism [Gr. eklektikos=to choose], in philosophy, the selection of elements from ...
  • naturalism, in philosophy - naturalism naturalism, in philosophy, a position that attempts to explain all phenomena and account ...
  • PHILOSOPHY - Philosophy comes from the Ancient Greek words for “love of wisdom.” It is the search for truth based on reason rather than religious teaching. Most ph
  • philosophy: The History of Philosophy - The History of Philosophy Historically, philosophy falls into three large periods: classical (Greek ...
  • Philosophy and Religion: Philosophy - Encyclopedia Philosophy and Religion Philosophy Philosophy, Terms and Concepts Philosophy: ...

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Philosophy, Terms and Concepts