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The '''history of [[philosophy]]''' is the study of philosophical ideas and concepts through time. Issues specifically related to history of philosophy might include (but are not limited to): How can changes in philosophy be accounted for historically? What drives the development of thought in its historical context?  To what degree can philosophical texts from prior historical eras even be understood today?

 

[[Image:socrates_1.jpg|frame|right|[[Socrates|Sǒcratēs]]; circa 470 BC–399 BC) ancient Greek philosopher credited with the foundation for Western philosophy.]]The '''history of [[philosophy]]''' is the study of philosophical ideas and concepts through time. Issues specifically related to history of philosophy might include (but are not limited to): How can changes in philosophy be accounted for historically? What drives the development of thought in its historical context?  To what degree can philosophical texts from prior historical eras even be understood today?

All cultures — be they [[prehistoric]], [[ancient]], [[mediæval]], or [[Modernism|modern]]; [[Eastern hemisphere|Eastern]], [[Western hemisphere|Western]], [[religious]] or [[secular]] — have had their own unique schools of philosophy, arrived at through both inheritance and through independent discovery. Such theories have grown from different [[premise|premises]] and approaches, examples of which include (but are not limited to) [[rationalism]] (theories arrived at through [[logic]]), [[empiricism]] (theories arrived at through observation), and even through [[leap of faith|leaps of faith]], hope and inheritance (such as the [[supernatural|supernaturalist]] philosophies and [[religion|religions]]).

All cultures — be they [[prehistoric]], [[ancient]], [[mediæval]], or [[Modernism|modern]]; [[Eastern hemisphere|Eastern]], [[Western hemisphere|Western]], [[religious]] or [[secular]] — have had their own unique schools of philosophy, arrived at through both inheritance and through independent discovery. Such theories have grown from different [[premise|premises]] and approaches, examples of which include (but are not limited to) [[rationalism]] (theories arrived at through [[logic]]), [[empiricism]] (theories arrived at through observation), and even through [[leap of faith|leaps of faith]], hope and inheritance (such as the [[supernatural|supernaturalist]] philosophies and [[religion|religions]]).

History of philosophy seeks to catalogue and classify such development. The goal is to understand the development of philosophical ideas through time.  

History of philosophy seeks to catalogue and classify such development. The goal is to understand the development of philosophical ideas through time.  

== [[Western Philosophy]] ==

== [[Western Philosophy]] ==

=== [[Medieval Philosophy]] ===

=== [[Medieval Philosophy]] ===

Medieval philosophy was greatly concerned with the nature of God, and the application of [[Aristotle]]'s [[term logic|logic]] and thought to every area of life.

Medieval philosophy was greatly concerned with the nature of God, and the application of [[Aristotle]]'s [[term logic|logic]] and thought to every area of life.

=== [[Contemporary Philosophy]] ===

=== [[Contemporary Philosophy]] ===

The [[20th-century philosophy|20th century]] deals with the upheavals produced by a series of conflicts within philosophical discourse over the basis of knowledge, with classical certainties overthrown, and new social, economic, scientific and logical problems. 20th century philosophy was set for a series of attempts to reform and preserve, and to alter or abolish, older knowledge systems. Seminal figures include [[Sigmund Freud]], [[Friedrich Nietszche]], [[Ernst Mach]], [[John Dewey]]. [[Epistemology]] (theory of knowledge) and its basis was a central concern, as seen from the work of [[Heidegger]], [[Karl Popper]], [[Claude Lévi-Strauss]] and [[Bertrand Russell]]. Phenomenologically oriented metaphysics undergirded [[existentialism]] ([[Jean-Paul Sartre]], [[Søren Kierkegaard]], [[Albert Camus]]) and finally [[poststructuralism]] ([[Gilles Deleuze]], [[Jean-François Lyotard]], [[Michel Foucault]], [[Jacques Derrida]]). Also notable was the rise of "pop" philosophers who promulgated systems for dealing with the world but were isolated philosophically, including [[Ayn Rand]]. Conversely, some philosophers have attempted to define and rehabilitate older traditions of philosophy. Most notably, [[Hans-Georg Gadamer]] and [[Alasdair MacIntyre]] have both, albeit in different ways, revived the tradition of [[Aristotelianism]].

The [[20th-century philosophy|20th century]] deals with the upheavals produced by a series of conflicts within philosophical discourse over the basis of knowledge, with classical certainties overthrown, and new social, economic, scientific and logical problems. 20th century philosophy was set for a series of attempts to reform and preserve, and to alter or abolish, older knowledge systems. Seminal figures include [[Sigmund Freud]], [[Friedrich Nietszche]], [[Ernst Mach]], [[John Dewey]]. [[Epistemology]] (theory of knowledge) and its basis was a central concern, as seen from the work of [[Heidegger]], [[Karl Popper]], [[Claude Lévi-Strauss]] and [[Bertrand Russell]]. Phenomenologically oriented metaphysics undergirded [[existentialism]] ([[Jean-Paul Sartre]], [[Søren Kierkegaard]], [[Albert Camus]]) and finally [[poststructuralism]] ([[Gilles Deleuze]], [[Jean-François Lyotard]], [[Michel Foucault]], [[Jacques Derrida]]). Also notable was the rise of "pop" philosophers who promulgated systems for dealing with the world but were isolated philosophically, including [[Ayn Rand]]. Conversely, some philosophers have attempted to define and rehabilitate older traditions of philosophy. Most notably, [[Hans-Georg Gadamer]] and [[Alasdair MacIntyre]] have both, albeit in different ways, revived the tradition of [[Aristotelianism]].

== [[Eastern philosophy]] ==

== [[Eastern philosophy]] ==

In [[Western culture|the West]], the term [[Eastern philosophy]] refers very broadly to the various [[philosophy|philosophies]] of "the East," namely [[Asia]], including [[China]], [[India]], [[Japan]], [[Persian Empire|Persia]] and the general area. One must take into account that this term ignores that these countries do not belong to a single culture.

In [[Western culture|the West]], the term [[Eastern philosophy]] refers very broadly to the various [[philosophy|philosophies]] of "the East," namely [[Asia]], including [[China]], [[India]], [[Japan]], [[Persian Empire|Persia]] and the general area. One must take into account that this term ignores that these countries do not belong to a single culture.

Ancient eastern philosophy developed mainly in [[India]] and [[China]]. The Indian or Hindu schools of philosophy can be considered the oldest schools of philosophy - they predate Greek philosophy by almost 500 years. Hindu philosophy primarily begins with [[Upanishad]]s, which can be dated close to 800 BC. The oldest, such as the Brhadaranyaka and Chandogya Upanishads, have been dated to around the eighth century BCE. The philosophical edifice of Indian religions viz., [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] is built on the foundation laid by the Upanishads. Hindu philosophy is followed by the Buddhist and Jain philosophies.  

Ancient eastern philosophy developed mainly in [[India]] and [[China]]. The Indian or Hindu schools of philosophy can be considered the oldest schools of philosophy - they predate Greek philosophy by almost 500 years. Hindu philosophy primarily begins with [[Upanishad]]s, which can be dated close to 800 BC. The oldest, such as the Brhadaranyaka and Chandogya Upanishads, have been dated to around the eighth century BCE. The philosophical edifice of Indian religions viz., [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] is built on the foundation laid by the Upanishads. Hindu philosophy is followed by the Buddhist and Jain philosophies.  

[[Confucianism]] can be considered as the oldest school of philosophy in China. Confucianism developed in China around the same time as Buddhism and Jainism developed in India. Another school of philosophy,  [[Taoism]], developed in China around 200 BC.

[[Confucianism]] can be considered as the oldest school of philosophy in China. Confucianism developed in China around the same time as Buddhism and Jainism developed in India. Another school of philosophy,  [[Taoism]], developed in China around 200 BC.

=== [[Buddhist Philosophy]] ===

=== [[Buddhist Philosophy]] ===

== Abrahamic philosophy ==

== [[Abrahamic philosophy]] ==

 

Abrahamic philosophy, in its loosest sense, comprises the series of philosophical schools that emerged from the study and commentary of the common ancient [[Semitic]] tradition which can be traced by their adherents to [[Abraham]] ("Father/Leader of many" Hebrew אַבְרָהָם ("Avraham") Arabic ابراهيم ("Ibrahim"), a patriarch whose life is narrated in the [[Hebrew Bible]]/[[Old Testament]], and as a prophet in the [[Qur'an]] and also called a prophet in [[Genesis]] 20:7.

Abrahamic philosophy, in its loosest sense, comprises the series of philosophical schools that emerged from the study and commentary of the common ancient [[Semitic]] tradition which can be traced by their adherents to [[Abraham]] ("Father/Leader of many" Hebrew אַבְרָהָם ("Avraham") Arabic ابراهيم ("Ibrahim"), a patriarch whose life is narrated in the [[Hebrew Bible]]/[[Old Testament]], and as a prophet in the [[Qur'an]] and also called a prophet in [[Genesis]] 20:7.

The standard text common to all of these subsequent traditions are what is known as the [[Hebrew Bible]], roughly the first five books of the [[Old Testament]], starting with the [[Genesis|book of Genesis]] through to [[Deuteronomy]]. However, each of them added substantially different texts to their emerging canons, and hence their respective philosophical developments varied widely.  

The standard text common to all of these subsequent traditions are what is known as the [[Hebrew Bible]], roughly the first five books of the [[Old Testament]], starting with the [[Genesis|book of Genesis]] through to [[Deuteronomy]]. However, each of them added substantially different texts to their emerging canons, and hence their respective philosophical developments varied widely.  

=== Jewish philosophy ===

=== [[Jewish philosophy]] ===

 

=== Christian philosophy ===

=== Islamic philosophy ===

=== [[Christian philosophy]] ===

=== Judeo-Islamic philosophy ===

=== [[Islamic philosophy]] ===

== African philosophy ==

=== [[Judeo-Islamic philosophy]] ===

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[History of Ideas]]

*[[History of Ideas]]

*[[Intellectual History]]

*[[Intellectual History]]

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/DicHist/analytic/anaVI.html The history of religious and philosophical ideas], in ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas''

*[https://etext.lib.virginia.edu/DicHist/analytic/anaVI.html The history of religious and philosophical ideas], in ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas''

* [http://www.digdownproductions.com Evil in Modern Thought: An Alternative History of Philosophy.  A documentary film about the problem of evil.]

* [https://www.digdownproductions.com Evil in Modern Thought: An Alternative History of Philosophy.  A documentary film about the problem of evil.]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]