Philosophy
/fɪˈlɒsəfi/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.
/fɪˈlɒsəfi/
The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.
The course covers the history of Western philosophy.
💡 Simply: It's like thinking really hard about big questions, like what's real, how we know things, and what's right and wrong. Imagine you're constantly asking 'why?' about the world and your place in it. It can shape how you feel about life.
👶 For kids: Thinking really hard about big questions like what's real and why we're here.
More Examples
His philosophy of life is centered on simplicity and contentment.
Ancient Greek philosophy laid the groundwork for many modern ideas.
How It's Used
"He is studying philosophy at university."
"Her personal philosophy is to live each day to the fullest."
A set of principles, beliefs, or values that guide one's actions or views.
/fɪˈlɒsəfi/
A particular system of thought.
His philosophy of management emphasizes collaboration.
💡 Simply: It's the set of rules or ideas you use to live your life. Like, some people believe in always being kind (that's their philosophy) and others believe in always getting things done, no matter what (that's their philosophy). It's your 'code'.
👶 For kids: Your own special way of thinking about things and how to live your life.
More Examples
The company's philosophy is customer-centric.
He is exploring the philosophies of Eastern religions.
How It's Used
"His political philosophy is based on social justice."
"She adheres to a stoic philosophy."
Idioms & expressions
to take a philosophical approach
To consider a problem or situation in a calm, thoughtful, and unbiased manner.
"Instead of getting angry, she took a philosophical approach to the criticism."
From the Greek word 'philosophia', meaning 'love of wisdom'. It's derived from 'philo' (loving) and 'sophia' (wisdom). The term was first used by Pythagoras.
Philosophy has been a central intellectual pursuit since ancient times, with major contributions from Greek, Roman, and Eastern thinkers.
Memory tip
Think of it as the quest for 'wisdom'.