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Defining Philosophy—research and interpretation
Bibliographic information: "philosophy." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 25 Aug. 2014.
<Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/philosophy>.
Definition
Key words or
Overall concept and important
Paraphrase or what the
phrases
notes
definition implies
It’s a process involving three
main areas
The rational
investigation of the
truths and principles of
being, knowledge, or
conduct
Rational,
investigation,
truths, being,
knowledge,
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
Three
Philosophy as a subject or
branches,
field, a major you might
natural,
study in college
moral,
metaphysical,
study
Particular
system of
thought,
philosophy of
___
Philosophy as a defined way
of thinking. Example the
dictionary gives is of one
philosopher’s views rather
than the process in general
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.
Study,
principles
and concepts,
branch of
knowledge,
view to
improving
This is also a definition that
shows how philosophy can
be used in a defined way, but
this time in one particular
field rather than one person;
the ideas of an area of study
System,
principles,
guidance,
practical
This definition is more
content-based, the actual
ideas or opinions one might
hold
Philosophy is an exploratory
process involving systematic
mental engagement with
concepts of existence,
understanding and ethical
behavior, in order to
discover truth and guiding
ideas
Philosophy is an area of
study, a subject that can be
studied. The field has three
main areas of focus:
understanding natural
processes, ethics and
questions outside of what
science studies
A philosophy is a defined
approach formulated by the
conclusions of one person.
Karl Marx, for example,
studied economic systems
and came up with a
philosophy about how
societies could be organize
for fairness and prosperity
Philosophy is also used more
narrowly to explain the
particular ideas of one field
and the ongoing
development of ideas in that
field
Philosophy can be used
possessively to talk about
the ideas that make up one
person’s understanding of
how to best live life: “my
philosophy about that…”