1.

the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when
considered as an academic discipline.
the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc. : a particular set of
ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc. : a set of ideas about how to do
something or how to live
2.)Eastern thought is eventually ontological. It doesn't really stop until it makes a stab at what's
really real. It loves the general knowledge. Western thought is highly dissecting. It doesn't not
mind engaging the variety and leave alone the promise of an absolute unity. It loves the
specificity of knowledge.
Western philosophy is mainly used in the Western parts of the world, such as in the European
countries, while the Eastern philosophy is prevalent in Asian countries.
Western philosophy deals with Individualism while Eastern Philosophy is related to Collectivism.
Both philosophies center on virtues.
Eastern philosophy takes more of a spiritual approach while Western philosophy is more hands-on.
esthern
Cosmological unity Life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the realities that
surround us Self-liberation from the false "Me" and finding the true "Me" Behavioral ethics
Systemic approach - all events in the universe are interconnected Searching inside yourself through meditation and right living
western
More focused on individual events and the role of the person Searching outside yourself - through
research and analysis
3.)This page lists some links to ancient philosophy. In Western philosophy, the spread of
Christianity in the Roman Empire marked the ending of Hellenistic philosophy and ushered in the
beginnings of Medieval philosophy, whereas in Eastern philosophy, the spread of Islam through
the Arab Empire marked the end of Old Iranian philosophy and ushered in the beginnings of early
Islamic philosophy.
Contemporary philosophy is the present period in the history of Western philosophy beginning at
the end of the 19th century with the professionalization of the discipline and the rise of analytic
and continental philosophy. The phrase "contemporary philosophy" is a piece of technical
terminology in philosophy that refers to a specific period in the history of Western philosophy.
However, the phrase is often confused with modern philosophy (which refers to an earlier period
in Western philosophy), postmodern philosophy (which refers to continental philosophers'
criticisms of modern philosophy), and with a non-technical use of the phrase referring to any
recent philosophic work.
Medieval philosophy is the philosophy in the era now known as medieval or the Middle Ages, the
period roughly extending from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century C.E. to the
Renaissance in the 16th century. Medieval philosophy, understood as a project of independent
philosophical inquiry, began in Baghdad, in the middle of the 8th century, and in France, in the
itinerant court of Charlemagne, in the last quarter of the 8th century.[1] It is defined partly by the
process of rediscovering the ancient culture developed in Greece and Rome in the classical

period, and partly by the need to address theological problems and to integrate sacred doctrine
with secular learning. The history of medieval philosophy is traditionally divided into two main
periods: the period in the Latin West following the Early Middle Ages until the 12th century, when
the works of Aristotle and Plato were preserved and cultivated and the 'golden age' of the 12th,
13th and 14th centuries in the Latin West, which witnessed the culmination of the recovery of
ancient philosophy, along with a reception of its Arabic commentators, and significant
developments in the field of Philosophy of religion, Logic and Metaphysics. The medieval era was
disparagingly treated by the Renaissance humanists, who saw it as a barbaric 'middle' period
between the classical age of Greek and Roman culture, and the 'rebirth' or renaissance of
classical culture. Modern historians consider the medieval era to be one of philosophical
development, heavily influenced by Christian theology. One of the most notable thinkers of the
era, Thomas Aquinas, never considered himself a philosopher, and criticized philosophers for
always "falling short of the true and proper wisdom to be found in Christian revelation".[2]
Modern philosophy is a branch of philosophy that originated in Western Europe in the 17th
century, and is now common worldwide. It is not a specific doctrine or school (and thus should not
be confused with Modernism), although there are certain assumptions common to much of it,
which helps to distinguish it from earlier philosophy.[1] History of Western philosophy Part of
"School of Athens" by Raphael (Raffaelo Sanzio, 1483-1520) Western philosophy By era PreSocratic Ancient Medieval Renaissance Modern Contemporary By century 16th 17th 18th 19th
20th 21st See also Religious philosophy Christian Jewish Islamic Hindu Sikh Buddhist Eastern
philosophy Arab Babylonian Indian Iranian Chinese Japanese Korean Western culture Western
world v t e The 17th and early 20th centuries roughly mark the beginning and the end of modern
philosophy. How much if any of the Renaissance should be included is a matter for dispute;
likewise modernity may or may not have ended in the twentieth century and been replaced by
postmodernity. How one decides these questions will determine the scope of one's use of "modern
philosophy." This article will focus on the history of philosophy beginning from Rene Descartes
through the early twentieth century ending in Ludwig Wittgenstein.
4.)Metaphysics Study of Existence What's out there? Epistemology Study of Knowledge How do I
know about it? Ethics Study of Action What should I do? Politics Study of Force What actions are
permissible? Esthetics Study of Art What can life be like?
----There is a hierarchical relationship between these branches as can be seen in the Concept Chart.
At the root is Metaphysics, the study of existence and the nature of existence. Closely related is
Epistemology, the study of knowledge and how we know about reality and existence. Dependent
on Epistemology is Ethics, the study of how man should act. Ethics is dependent on Epistemology
because it is impossible to make choices without knowledge. A subset of Ethics is Politics: the
study of how men should interact in a proper society and what constitutes proper. Esthetics, the
study of art and sense of life is slightly separate, but depends on Metaphysics, Epistemology, and
Ethics.
1. Epistemology Epistemology is the study of knowledge. Epistemology deals with the process
by which we can know that something is true. It addresses questions such as: --What can I know?
--How is knowledge acquired? --Can we be certain of anything? Within epistemology there are two
important categoriesrationalism and empiricism. Rationalism stresses reason as the most
important element in knowing. Rationalism holds that knowledge is gained primarily through the
mind. It also asserts that we are born with innate ideas that precede any experiences we may
have with our physical senses. Empiricism, on the other hand, asserts that all our knowledge

comes from our five senses. To use the terminology of the empiricist, John Locke, our minds are a
blank slate at birth. Thus knowledge comes from our experiences. 2. Metaphysics Metaphysics
is the study of reality. More specifically it is the study of reality that is beyond the scientific or
mathematical realms. The term metaphysics itself literally means beyond the physical. The
metaphysical issues most discussed are the existence of God, the soul, and the afterlife. 3. Ethics
Ethics is the study of moral value, right and wrong. Ethics is involved with placing value to
personal actions, decisions, and relations. Important ethical issues today include abortion, sexual
morality, the death penalty, euthanasia, pornography, and the environment. 4. Logic Logic is the
study of right reasoning. It is the tool philosophers use to study other philosophical categories.
Good logic includes the use of good thinking skills and the avoidance of logic fallacies. 5.
Aesthetics Aesthetics is the study of art and beauty. It attempts to address such issues as: --What
is art? --What is the relationship between beauty and art? --Are there objective standards by which
art can be judged? --Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?