PHILOSOPHY









philosophy Encyclopædia Britannica (from Greek, by way of Latin, philosophia, glove of wisdomh), the critical examination of the grounds for fundamental beliefs and an analysis of the basic concepts employed in the expression of such beliefs. Philosophical inquiry is a central element in the intellectual history of many historical civilizations. The subject of philosophy is treated in a number of articles. For treatment of major systems of Eastern philosophy, see Buddhism; Confucianism; Confucius; Taoism; Shinto; Hinduism; Jainism; Sikhism; Indian philosophy. For historical treatment of Western philosophy, see philosophy, history of. For individual treatment of major systems, see atomism; Analytic philosophy; Eleaticism; Empiricism; Epicureanism; Existentialism; Idealism; Materialism; Phenomenology; Positivism; Pragmatism; Pythagoreanism; Rationalism; Realism; Scholasticism; Skepticism; Stoicism; Utilitarianism. See also Aristotle; Aristotelianism; Augustine, Saint; Christianity; Descartes, René; Cartesianism; Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich; Hegelianism; Hume, David; Islam: Islamic philosophy; Judaism; Kant, Immanuel; Kantianism; Locke, John; Marx, Karl; Marxism; Mill, John Stuart; Nietzsche, Friedrich; Plato; Platonism; Socrates. For treatment of particular branches of philosophical inquiry, see aesthetics; education, philosophy of; epistemology; ethics; history, philosophy of; ideology; law, philosophy of; logic; logic, philosophy of; mathematics, philosophy of; metaphysics; mind, philosophy of; nature, philosophy of; philosophical anthropology; religion, philosophy of; science, philosophy of.