anti-philosophy
|an-ti-phi-los-o-phy|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti fəˈlɑː.sə.fi/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti fɪˈlɒs.ə.fi/
rejection of philosophy
Etymology
'anti-philosophy' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'philosophy' (from Greek 'philosophia' meaning 'love of wisdom').
'anti-' (Greek) was combined with 'philosophy' (via Latin and Old French from Greek 'philosophia') in Modern English to form the compound 'anti-philosophy', reflecting a straightforward literal combination rather than a long historical shift in form.
Initially the components literally meant 'against' + 'love of wisdom'; over time the compound has been used more specifically to label movements, critiques, or positions that oppose or reject traditional philosophical methods and institutions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a stance, movement, or set of arguments that rejects or opposes traditional philosophical methods, aims, or disciplines.
Some 20th-century thinkers were described as proponents of anti-philosophy because they rejected abstract system-building in favor of practical or literary approaches.
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Noun 2
a critical label used in intellectual history to characterize thinkers or works that intentionally distance themselves from or undermine philosophical traditions.
Scholars sometimes apply the term anti-philosophy to writers whose work undermines the presuppositions of academic philosophy.
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Last updated: 2025/11/13 16:40