A philosophical theory or philosophical position[1] is a view that attempts to explain or account for a particular problem in philosophy.[citation needed] The use of the term "theory" is a statement of colloquial English and not a technical term.[2] While any sort of thesis or opinion may be termed a position, in analytic philosophy it is thought best to reserve the word "theory" for systematic, comprehensive attempts to solve problems.[3]

Overview

The elements that comprise a philosophical position consist of statements which are believed to be true by the thinkers who accept them, and which may or may not be empirical. The sciences have a very clear idea of what a theory is; however in the arts such as philosophy, the definition is more hazy. Philosophical positions are not necessarily scientific theories, although they may consist of both empirical and non-empirical statements.

The collective statements of all philosophical movements, schools of thought, and belief systems consist of philosophical positions. Also included among philosophical positions are many principles, dogmas, doctrines, hypotheses, rules, paradoxes, laws, as well as 'ologies, 'isms, 'sis's, and effects.[1]

Some examples of philosophical positions include:

Philosophical positions may also take the form of a religion, philosophy of life, ideology, world view, or life stance.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Dictionary of Theories, Jennifer Bothamley
  2. ^ Lacey, A.R. (1976). A Dictionary of Philosophy (second ed.). London and New York: Routledge. p. 122. ISBN 0-415-05872-4.
  3. ^ Sparkes, A.W. (1991). Talking Philosophy: a wordbook. New York, New York: Routledge. p. 114. ISBN 0-415-04222-4.
  4. ^ Richard T. Garner and Bernard Rosen, Moral Philosophy: A Systematic Introduction to Normative Ethics and Meta-ethics. (Macmillan, 1967)
  5. ^ See generally, Max Horkheimer, Traditional and Critical Theory (1937)
  6. ^ "Critical theory" at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
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