Meaning of philosophy (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Philosophy:

Philosophy is a doctrine that uses a set of logical and methodical reasoning about abstract concepts such as existence, truth and ethics based on science, the characteristics and causes and effects of natural things such as human beings and the universe.

Philosophy comes from the Greek word φιλοσοφία and from the Latin philosophia coined by Pythagoras in Ancient Greece which means 'love for wisdom' or 'friend of wisdom'. With this term theories and systems of thought developed by one or more authors within this field are also named.

Philosophy is also the spirit, principles and general concepts of a matter, a theory or an organization. It also refers to an own way of understanding the world and life.

Philosophy also means temperance, strength or serenity to face a complicated situation. In this sense, the expression 'taking things with philosophy' means relativizing a problem.

Origin of philosophy

Aristotle sculpture.

There is much controversy about the true origin of philosophy. However, various authors agree that philosophy developed more or less in parallel in both the East and the West, but their conceptions and methods are very different.

In the West, philosophy is believed to have emerged during the Ancient Age (a historical period in which the first civilizations with writing methods appeared) and comprises both Greek philosophy and Roman philosophy.

In Greece, philosophy begins with the pre-Socratic period, led by Thales of Miletus in the 6th century BC. C, and which would be followed later by Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The Greeks were looking for a way to understand the world, far from mythology and religion and more in contact with rational thought.

For its part, Roman philosophy emerged in Ancient Rome, in the 7th century BC. C, with exponents such as Lucretius, Seneca, Cicero and Marco Aurelio. For the Romans, interest prevailed over the practical, so they gave priority to everyday issues such as politics and ethics.

In the East, philosophy had two main aspects: Hindu philosophy, from which multiple forms of thought derive, such as Vedanta, Yoga and Buddhism; and Chinese philosophy, which began in the Shang dynasty with the writing of the I Ching or the Book of Mutations in 1200 BC. C, and which would later become one of the pillars of Confucianism.

See also:

• Presocratic philosophy Greek philosophy Characteristics of philosophy

Branches of philosophy

These are some of the main branches of philosophy today:

• Metaphysics: studies the notions with which the human being understands the world around him. Gnoseology: studies what concerns human knowledge: where it arises, how far it can be developed, etc. Epistemology: is responsible for analyzing the factors that lead to obtaining knowledge. For some authors, epistemology and epistemology with the same philosophical branch. Logic: it started as a branch of philosophy that was in charge of studying notions such as demonstrations, paradoxes or invalid inference. However, for a century it has also been considered a branch of mathematics. Ethics: study about the notions of right and wrong in human behavior. Aesthetics: deals with studying the perception of beauty. Political philosophy: studies the interrelationships between citizens and political actors and systems. Philosophy of language: it is a branch of philosophy that studies the use of language and its relationship with the process of thinking and interpreting the world through meanings. Philosophy of the mind: it is in charge of studying all the cognitive and emotional processes that take place on the mental plane, such as thoughts, desires, fantasies and emotions. Philosophy of science: it is dedicated to the study of scientific knowledge and methodology, using concepts mainly from empiricism and positivism, delving into the legitimacy, nature and rationality of science and its relationship with other forms of knowledge such as religion.

See also:

• Philosophical currents. Contemporary philosophy. Abstraction.

Philosophy of a company

The philosophy of a company is a set of generic principles, values ​​and guidelines for action that can include the vision and mission of a business organization. The concept of business culture is sometimes also included in this concept, although it is more related to existing customs and ways of proceeding.

One of its characteristics is that it has a certain stability over time, although the philosophy of a company can be adapted or modified. In addition, it is decisive in the development of business activity, since the existing philosophy conditions the objectives and forms of action of a company.

Philosophy of law

The philosophy of law is the study of the proper concepts of law from a philosophical point of view. It deals with issues such as the nature of Law and its relationship with morality, the concept of truth, knowledge and legal norm.

Two currents stand out within the Philosophy of Law: the doctrine of Natural Law or Natural Law and the doctrine of Positive Law or Legal Positivism (in which a skeptical position is distinguished on the one hand and a methodological aspect on the other).

Some of the authors who have delved into the Philosophy of Law are John Finnis, Hans Kelsen and Ronald Dworkin.

See also:

• Philosophy of life Eclecticism.