INI

Philosophical Schools - INI

Philosophical schools represent major intellectual movements in Western philosophy that took different positions on the sources of knowledge, methodology, and understanding of human existence. Beginning with the 17th-century Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz) and 18th-century Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume), these schools were critically synthesized by Kant's critical philosophy. From the 19th to 20th centuries, Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sartre, Camus) emphasizing individual freedom and choice, Analytic Philosophy (Russell, Wittgenstein) focusing on language and logical analysis, and Structuralism (Saussure, Levi-Strauss) exploring underlying structures in culture and language emerged, profoundly influencing contemporary thought.

philosophy rationalism empiricism existentialism analytic philosophy structuralism western philosophy history of ideas

[item.rationalism]
code=01
slug=rationalism
name=Rationalism
description=A philosophical school that regards reason and logic as the source of knowledge.
coreConcept=Cogito, ergo sum
keyPhilosophers=["Descartes","Spinoza","Leibniz"]
period=17th Century

[item.empiricism]
code=02
slug=empiricism
name=Empiricism
description=A philosophical school that regards sensory experience as the only source of knowledge.
coreConcept=Tabula rasa
keyPhilosophers=["Locke","Berkeley","Hume"]
period=18th Century

[item.existentialism]
code=03
slug=existentialism
name=Existentialism
description=A philosophical school that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice.
coreConcept=Existence precedes essence
keyPhilosophers=["Kierkegaard","Sartre","Camus","Heidegger"]
period=19th-20th Century

[item.analytic-philosophy]
code=04
slug=analytic-philosophy
name=Analytic Philosophy
description=A philosophical school that aims for clear discourse through the analysis of language and logic.
coreConcept=Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent
keyPhilosophers=["Frege","Russell","Wittgenstein","Moore"]
period=20th Century

[item.structuralism]
code=05
slug=structuralism
name=Structuralism
description=A school that explores universal structures underlying culture and language.
coreConcept=Binary opposition and meaning through difference
keyPhilosophers=["Saussure","Levi-Strauss"]
period=20th Century