The Branches and

Types of Philosophy
Nominal Introduction
Nominal Introduction to the
branches and types of
Philosophy
 This is simply a brief intro to those
branches mentioned above (in the
first item), and it does not contain a
content to each of those. Since you
will be assigned to study them Cosmos = from
individually using internet sources, Gk. kosmos,
meaning order or
this intro shall just give the harmony

etymological meaning as much as

possible. Thus, I call this a
“nominal introduction.”
Nominal intro: branches of philosophy

 Metaphysics = this word means beyond the

physical or beyond nature. Physics was the
study of nature, and so you can surmise what
is the domain of metaphysics.
 Ontology = from onto, ens (being) logos (word,
treatise, study): it means the study of being as
being.
 Epistemology = from episteme, meaning
knowledge. It is the philosophy about the
validity of knowledge or how does knowledge
comes about.
Nominal intro: branches of philosophy

 Cosmology = kosmos in Gk. means order or harmony.

The Greeks believed that the universe is eternal,
completely orderly, and the source of harmony. (You
might wonder what does “cosmetics” literally mean?
And what does it presuppose when you need
cosmetics?)
 Psychology = the Gk. psyche means soul, which, for
the Greeks, basically determines the nature of the
human person; thus, psychology is the study of the
soul as much as it is the study of man.
Nominal intro: branches of philosophy

 Theodicy = the Gk. theos refers to God, and

dicere, to say. So, theodicy refers to our
names, characteristics, nature of God.
 Axiology = Gk. axious means value or worth.
Thus, it is a study of our values and norms for
good actions.
 Social Philosophy = the Latin socius means
companion or other. Thus, it refers to the
philosophical study of human society.
Nominal intro: types of philosophy

 Existentialism = from the word existence, which

refers to the actual, real experience of the
human person, as opposed to abstract
essence in which the person’s nature is
conceived.
 Phenomenology = from the word
phainomenon, referring to that which appears.
 Pragmatism = comes from the word pragma,
meaning deed, action. This philosophical
system is concerned with the results or
consequences of the theory.
Nominal intro: types of philosophy

 Existentialism = from the word existence, which

refers to the actual, real experience of the
human person, as opposed to abstract
essence in which the person’s nature is
conceived.
 Phenomenology = from the word
phainomenon, referring to that which appears.
 Pragmatism = comes from the word pragma,
meaning deed, action. This philosophical
system is concerned with the results or
consequences of the theory.
Nominal intro: types of philosophy

 Analytic Philosophy = “analysis” means to

break up into parts or elements. Such breaking
up applies to our concepts or language
structure.
 Philosophical Hermeneutics = Hermes, as
god’s messenger, interprets and translates the
messages of the gods to mortal.
 Post-Structuralism = structure comes from the
word struere, to build. Thus, it employs method
opposed to Structuralism.