Philosopher

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /fɪˈlÉ’s.É™.fÉ™(ɹ)/
• US IPA: /fəˈlÉ‘sÉ™fÉ™r/

Alternative forms

• phylosopher nonstandard

Origin

From Anglo-Norman or Middle French philosophe, from Latin philosophus, from Ancient Greek φιλόσοφος (literally lover of wisdom) + -er.

Credited as having been coined by Pythagoras to describe himself.

Attributed dates to Roman antiquity: Cicero, Tusculan Disputations, 5.3.8-9 = Heraclides Ponticus fr. 88 Wehrli, Diogenes Laertius 1.12, 8.8, Iamblichus VP 58.

This view has been challenged by Walter Burkert, but it has been defended by C.J. De Vogel, Pythagoras and Early Pythagoreanism (1966), pp. 97–102, and C. Riedweg, Pythagoras: His Life, Teaching, And Influence (2005), p. 92.

Full definition of philosopher

Noun

1. A person devoted to studying and producing results in philosophy.Philosophers spend a lot of time thinking, and less time living.
2. (obsolete) An alchemist.

Antonyms

• nonphilosopher

Related terms

• philosopher's stone
• philosophical
• philosophizer
• philosophy