“Windows To Spirituality”
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It is distinguished from other ways of addressing fundamental questions (such as mysticism, myth, or religion) by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument. It involves logical analysis of language and clarification of the meaning of words and concepts.
The word “philosophy” comes from the Greek philosophia, which literally means “love of wisdom“.
Philosophers also pose more practical and concrete questions such as: Is there a best way to live? Is it better to be just or unjust (if one can get away with it)? Do humans have free will?
Outline Of Thought The following outline of thought is provided as an overview of and topical guide to thought (thinking): Thought (also called thinking) is the mental process in which beings form psychological associations and models of the world. Thinking is manipulating information, as when we form concepts, engage in problem solving, reason and make decisions. Thought, the act of thinking,...
Personalism Personalism is an intellectual stance that emphasizes the importance of human persons. Personalism exists in many different versions, and this makes it somewhat difficult to define it as a philosophical and theological movement. Friedrich Schleiermacher first used the term personalism (Personalismus) in print in 1799. One can trace the concept back to earlier thinkers in various...
Liberalism And Progressivism Within Islam Liberalism and progressivism within Islam involve professed Muslims who have created a considerable body of progressive thought about Islamic understanding and practice. Their work is sometimes characterized as “progressive Islam” (الإسلام التقدمي al-Islām at-taqaddumī). Some scholars, such as Omid Safi, differentiate between “Progressive Muslims” (post-colonial, anti-imperialist, and critical of modernity) and “Liberal advocates...
Zhuangzi Zhuangzi (traditional Chinese characters: 莊子) was a fourth-century B.C.E. Chinese thinker of startling depth and originality, and author of a text with the same name. Zhuangzi expanded the Chinese understanding of Dao (Tao), explored its relationship with Heaven (or Nature), and firmly planted human beings within this context. Further, the Zhuangzi text described in great detail the means to...
Ubuntu Philosophy This article covers Ubuntu philosophy. Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term meaning “humanity“. It is sometimes translated as “I am because we are” (also “I am because you are”), or “humanity towards others” (Zulu umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu). In Xhosa, the latter term is used, but is often meant in a more philosophical sense to mean...
Infallibility Infallibility refers to an inability to be wrong. It can be applied within a specific domain, or it can be used as a more general adjective. The term has significance in both epistemology and theology, and its meaning and significance in both fields is the subject of continued debate. In philosophy Main article: Infallibilism...
Fatalism Fatalism is a family of related philosophical doctrines that stress the subjugation of all events or actions to fate or destiny, and is commonly associated with the consequent attitude of resignation in the face of future events which are thought to be inevitable. Definition The term “fatalism” can refer to any of the...
Abul A’la Al-Maududi Abul A’la Al-Maududi (ابو الاعلی مودودی, Abul Alā Al-Mawdūdī – alternative spellings of last name Maudoodi, Mawdudi; 25 September 1903 – 22 September 1979) was an Islamic scholar, Islamist ideologue, Muslim philosopher, jurist, historian, journalist, activist, and scholar active in British India and later, following the partition, in Pakistan. Described by Wilfred Cantwell...
Ali Ünal Ali Ünal is a renowned scholar, Muslim philosopher, journalist, and prolific translator of works with an Islamic theme into English. He has written for many periodicals and is a columnist for Zaman daily newspaper. His published books include Living in the Shade of Islam, Islamic Perspectives on Science,...
Openness Openness is an overarching concept or philosophy that is characterized by an emphasis on transparency and collaboration. That is, openness refers to “accessibility of knowledge, technology and other resources; the transparency of action; the permeability of organisational structures; and the inclusiveness of participation”. Openness can be said to be the opposite of closedness, central authority and secrecy....
Knowledge Quotes Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Knowledge Quotes, Knowledge sayings, and Knowledge proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources. May these Knowledge Quotes from around the world inspire you to never give up and keep working towards your goals....
Defining Knowledge This article is about Defining Knowledge. Knowledge is evaluated and organized information with implications of being true, justified, and believed. Knowledge is often distinguished from opinion. Opinion implies one’s perspective without a claim for general or universal validity. The term knowledge is also used to mean the confident understanding of a subject, potentially...
Knowledge (Virtue) Knowledge, being a primitive fact of consciousness, cannot, strictly speaking, be defined; but the direct and spontaneous consciousness of knowing may be made clearer by pointing out its essential and distinctive characteristics. It will be useful first to consider briefly the current uses of the verb “to know”. To...
Authenticity (Philosophy) Authenticity is a philosophical concept that denotes the genuine, original, true state of human existence. The concept arises from the insights that human beings generally live or exist in an inauthentic way and that the genuine sense of self and its relationship with others (including God and/or other people), have been...
Freedom Freedom is traditionally understood as independence of the arbitrary will of another. Such a state is contrasted with slavery. A slave is constantly subject to the will of another. By contrast a free person can do whatever he chooses as long as he does not break the law and infringe on...
Normative Ethics Normative ethics is the study of ethical behaviour, and is the branch of philosophical ethics that investigates the questions that arise regarding how one ought to act, in a moral sense. Normative ethics is distinct from meta-ethics in that the former examines standards for the rightness and wrongness of actions, whereas the latter studies the meaning of...
Applied Ethics Applied ethics refers to the practical application of moral considerations. It is ethics with respect to real-world actions and their moral considerations in the areas of private and public life, the professions, health, technology, law, and leadership. For example, the bioethics community is concerned with identifying the correct approach to moral issues in...
Sexual Ethics Sexual ethics or sex ethics (also sexual morality) is a branch of philosophy that considers the ethics or morality or otherwise in sexual behavior. Sexual ethics seeks to understand, evaluate and critique interpersonal relationships and sexual activities from a social, cultural, and philosophical perspective. Some people consider aspects of human sexuality, such as gender identification and sexual orientation, as well...
Moral Psychology Moral psychology is a field of study in both philosophy and psychology. Historically, the term “moral psychology” was used relatively narrowly to refer to the study of . Moral psychology eventually came to refer more broadly to various topics at the intersection of ethics, psychology, and philosophy of mind. Some of the main topics...
Subjectivism Subjectivism is the doctrine that “our own mental activity is the only unquestionable fact of our experience”, instead of shared or communal, and that there is no external or objective truth. The success of this position is historically attributed to Descartes and his methodic doubt, although he used it as an epistemological...
