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PHILOSOPHER

Philosopher - Wikipedia

Philosophy (love of wisdom in ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It is a rational and critical inquiry that reflects on its own methods and assumptions.

Etymology

From Middle English philosophre, from Anglo-Norman or Middle French philosophe, from Latin philosophus, from Ancient Greek φιλόσοφος (philósophos, literally “lover of wisdom”) + -er.

Credited as having been coined by Pythagoras to describe himself.[1][2]

Displaced native Old English ūþwita.

Translations

±person devoted to studying philosophy

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Noun

philosopher (plural philosophers)

  1. (originally) A lover of wisdom.
  2. A student of philosophy.
  3. A scholar or expert engaged in or contributing to philosophical inquiry. hyponym ▼quotations ▼
  4. (archaic) A person who applies the principles of philosophy to the conduct of their life, as by acting calmly and rationally in the face of inevitable change. quotations ▼
  5. (archaic) A student, scholar, or expert in any branch of knowledge, especially those branches studied prior to being considered part of pure science.
  6. (obsolete) An alchemist. quotations ▼
Derived terms
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