Philosopher
A philosopher, in a broad sense, is someone who studies philosophy.
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The word "philosopher" comes from the Ancient Greek Template:Lang (philosophos), which means "lover of wisdom". The introduction of the terms "philosopher" and "philosophy" has been ascribed to the Greek thinker Pythagoras.<ref name="tufts">Template:LSJ</ref>
Common usage
A philosopher, in the more narrow and common usage, is any intellectual who has made contributions in one or more current fields of philosophy, such as aesthetics, ethics, epistemology, logic, metaphysics, social theory, and political philosophy.
A philosopher may also be one who worked in the humanities or other sciences which have since split from philosophy proper over the centuries, such as the arts, history, economics, sociology, psychology, linguistics, anthropology, theology, and politics.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> They may relate this knowledge to the discussion of philosophical problems.
Classical sense
In the classical sense, a philosopher is someone who lives according to a way of life, whose focus is upon resolving existential questions about the human condition, and not someone who discourses upon theories or comments upon authors.<ref>Pierre Hadot, The Inner Citadel. pg. 4</ref>
Typically, these particular brands of philosophy are Hellenistic ones and those who most arduously commit themselves to this lifestyle may be considered a philosopher.
Philosophic approaches
In both definitions, philosophers address these questions through critical, systematic and reasoned approaches.
(TO DO: organize, clarify, cross-ref.)
See also
General topics
Philophers
External links
- Philosopher @ Wikipedia
