Introduction

Philosophy, which means “love of wisdom”, refers to knowledge in general about ultimate truth, reality or value. Such knowledge must help man to lead an intelligent life. This consists of correct thinking, the cultivation of good taste, and of acting in the best interests of one and all, for life here and hereafter. Although the word philosophy only suggests “love” of wisdom, it is generally taken to cover the subject matter of wisdom itself as a whole.

Aristotle was known as “the Philosopher”, and the word itself came into vogue in the West generally after Pythagoras, who called himself “a lover of wisdom”1. In India, a philosopher is called a jnanin, “one who knows” and not one who is merely interested in wisdom at second-hand, or who just loves it. The Sanskrit word tattva-jnanin (a knower of first principles), as referring to the Absolute or Ultimate Reality, would correspond to the meaning of the word “philosopher” as used in the West.

Some branches of science such as biology used to be treated as Natural Philosophy, and only recently were annexed into the domain of science proper.

Ethics and aesthetics were naturally taken to be within the scope of philosophy, although they refer to value-factors in life and thus must belong to axiology (the study of values) instead of having to do with logical reasoning or being a part of speculative metaphysics.

Aristotle was the first to use the word ‘metaphysics’, which is even now treated as if it were interchangeable with philosophy. From its etymology in Aristotle’s own writings, we can see that he put it after physics, and meant it to cover all aspects of thinking that refer to abstractions in reasoning.

Philosophy, as we understand it here, is not limited by any genetic or etymological considerations. We mean it to cover the whole field of speculation, omitting neither Existence, Subsistence or Value.