PHILOSOPHICAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does philosophical mean? 

• PHILOSOPHICAL (adjective)
  The adjective PHILOSOPHICAL has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to philosophy or philosophers

2. characterized by the attitude of a philosopher; meeting trouble with level-headed detachment

  Familiarity information: PHILOSOPHICAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PHILOSOPHICAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to philosophy or philosophers

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

philosophic; philosophical

Context example:

a considerable knowledge of philosophical terminology

Pertainym:

philosophy (the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics)

Derivation:

philosophy (a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school)

philosophy (any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation)

philosophy (the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by the attitude of a philosopher; meeting trouble with level-headed detachment

Synonyms:

philosophic; philosophical

Context example:

a philosophic attitude toward life

Similar:

unemotional (unsusceptible to or destitute of or showing no emotion)

Derivation:

philosopher (a wise person who is calm and rational; someone who lives a life of reason with equanimity)

philosophy (the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics)

 Context examples 

In rather a too philosophical and connected a strain, perhaps, I have given an account of the conclusions I had come to concerning them in my early years.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The natural ruler of this house is Jupiter, which is why it is also called the house of philosophical discussion and why it covers the dogma of religion.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A set of ideas, as of philosophical or religious doctrine, in terms of which other ideas are interpreted or assigned meaning; a system that uses coordinates to establish position.

(Frame of Reference, NCI Thesaurus)

The philosophical study of moral values and rules.

(Ethics, NCI Thesaurus)

I chiefly wanted to know, to what cause, in art or in nature, it owed its several motions, whereof I will now give a philosophical account to the reader.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Then he avoided the tender subject altogether, wrote philosophical notes to Jo, turned studious, and gave out that he was going to 'dig', intending to graduate in a blaze of glory.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

My aunt concluded this philosophical summary, by fixing her eyes with a kind of triumph on Agnes, whose colour was gradually returning.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was brilliant, deep, philosophical, and deliciously touched with laughter.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Interesting philosophical ideas and concepts and debating literary and political questions interest me more!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Well, said Jo, laughing, if my people are 'philosophical and metaphysical', it isn't my fault, for I know nothing about such things, except what I hear father say, sometimes.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)