Western Philosophy

Western Philosophy

European philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies.

Historically, the term was recently invented to refer to the philosophical thinking of Western civilization, beginning with Greek philosophy in ancient Greece, and eventually covering a large area of the globe. The word philosophy itself originated in ancient Greece: philosophia (φιλοσοφία), literally, "the love of wisdom" (φιλεῖν — philein "to love" and σοφία - sophia "wisdom", in the sense of knowledge).

Read more about Western Philosophy:  Origins, Western Philosophical Subdisciplines, Further Reading

Famous quotes containing the words western and/or philosophy:

    O western orb sailing the heaven,
    Now I know what you must have meant as a month since I walked,
    As I walked in silence the transparent shadowy night,
    Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

    Philosophy can be compared to some powders that are so corrosive that, after they have eaten away the infected flesh of a wound, they then devour the living flesh, rot the bones, and penetrate to the very marrow. Philosophy at first refutes errors. But if it is not stopped at this point, it goes on to attack truths. And when it is left on its own, it goes so far that it no longer knows where it is and can find no stopping place.
    Pierre Bayle (1647–1706)