(from Greek, by way of Latin, philosophia, “love of wisdom”) the critical examination of the grounds for fundamental beliefs and an analysis of the basic concepts employed in the expression of such beliefs. Philosophical inquiry is a central element in the intellectual history of many historical civilizations.

The subject of philosophy is treated in a number of articles. For treatment of major systems of Eastern philosophy, see Buddhism; Confucianism; Confucius; Taoism (Daoism); Shintō; Hinduism; Jainism; Sikhism; Indian philosophy. For historical treatment of Western philosophy, see philosophy, Western. For individual treatment of major systems, see atomism; analytic philosophy; Eleaticism; Empiricism; Epicureanism; Existentialism; Idealism; Materialism; Phenomenology; Positivism; Pragmatism; Pythagoreanism; Rationalism; realism; Scholasticism; Skepticism; Stoicism; Utilitarianism. See also Aristotle; Aristotelianism; Augustine, Saint; Christianity; Descartes, René; Cartesianism; Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich; Hegelianism; Hume, David; Islam: Islamic philosophy (Islām); Judaism; Kant, Immanuel; Kantianism; Locke, John; Marx, Karl; Marxism; Mill, John Stuart; Nietzsche, Friedrich; Plato; Platonism; Socrates. For treatment of particular branches of philosophical inquiry, see aesthetics; education, philosophy of; epistemology; ethics; history, philosophy of; ideology; law, philosophy of; logic; logic, philosophy of; mathematics, philosophy of; metaphysics; mind, philosophy of; nature, philosophy of; philosophical anthropology; religion, philosophy of; science, philosophy of.