philosophies
Schools of thought
Philosophies is the plural of philosophy—systems of thought or belief that guide understanding and action.
A person's philosophy of life shapes their decisions.
Academic philosophies are formal schools of thought: Eastern philosophies, the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.
In casual use, philosophies can mean general approaches: different philosophies of child-rearing, competing business philosophies.
Philosophy stressing self-created meaning
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- pragmatismPractical problem-solving philosophy
realism · absurdism · relativism · objectivism · positivism · postmodernism · structuralism · deconstructionism
Understood facts and skills
- truthAccordance with reality
- beliefTrust held as true
- justificationReason proving rightness
- certaintyTotal absence of doubt
doubt · evidence · perception · reasoning · intuition · understanding · cognition · empiricism
Study of existence's nature
- existenceState of being real
- realityWhat actually exists
- beingExisting as something
- essenceFundamental nature of something
causality · determinism · identity · substance · universals · particulars · necessity · contingency
Reasoned case or dispute
- deductionConclusion from premises
- inductionFormal admission process
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
proposition · validity · fallacy · reasoning · proof · axiom · theorem · tautology
Right and wrong principles
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- justiceFair treatment under law
- dutyRequired moral task
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
altruism · conscience · principles · righteousness · responsibility · empathy · compassion · fairness
Aesthetic excellence
- artHuman creative expression
- tasteFlavor perception ability
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- formShape or document
expression · harmony · style · elegance · symmetry · composition · critique · sensibility
Belief in deity
- atheismRejection of deities
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- deismNon-intervening creator belief
- pantheismReality itself is holy
monotheism · polytheism · animism · secularism · theodicy · faith · spirituality · sacred
existentialism
Philosophy stressing self-created meaning
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
pragmatism · realism · absurdism · relativism · objectivism · positivism · postmodernism · structuralism · deconstructionism · naturalism
knowledge
Understood facts and skills
- truthAccordance with reality
- beliefTrust held as true
- justificationReason proving rightness
certainty · doubt · evidence · perception · reasoning · intuition · understanding · cognition · empiricism · rationalism
ontology
Study of existence's nature
essence · causality · determinism · identity · substance · universals · particulars · necessity · contingency · transcendence
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- deductionConclusion from premises
- inductionFormal admission process
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
syllogism · proposition · validity · fallacy · reasoning · proof · axiom · theorem · tautology · contradiction
morality
Right and wrong principles
integrity · altruism · conscience · principles · righteousness · responsibility · empathy · compassion · fairness · honesty
beauty
Aesthetic excellence
form · expression · harmony · style · elegance · symmetry · composition · critique · sensibility · creativity
theism
Belief in deity
- atheismRejection of deities
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- deismNon-intervening creator belief
pantheism · monotheism · polytheism · animism · secularism · theodicy · faith · spirituality · sacred · profane
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- legacybequest, inheritance, heirloom, heritage, tradition
- worksmasterpieces, compositions, piece, pieces, work
- assertionsassertions, asserting, assert, statements, stating
- academic worksdissertations, theses, academic papers, research papers, scholarly works
philosophiesreligions
Organized belief systems
faiths · theologies · dogmas · sciences · creeds
philosophiespractices
Repeated training sessions
actions · praxis · crafts · trades · pragmatics
philosophiesinstincts
Innate behavioral tendencies
gut feelings · reflexes · prejudices · knee-jerk reactions · intuitions
- philosophical debateFormal argument over concepts
- philosophical conceptsFundamental ideas in thought
- wax philosophicalSpeak thoughtfully at length
- philosophical discussionsReasoned inquiry through dialogue
- philosophical questionsInquiries about existence and meaning
- philosophical puzzleAbstract problem inviting reflection