On Thursday 17 April 2008 07:47 am, Vincent Untz wrote: > Heh, I wonder if we're going to agree on something :-) > > Quick summary of the proposals so far: > > Religion: no, some people may be offended > Faith: no, can be ambiguous > Religious: no, adjective > Philosophy: might be a cultural difference, but this looks wrong to me
The reason(s) I suggest philosophy include: * it can also encompass non-religious things like atheism, agnosticism, and maybe just other philosophies of life rather than just religion, faith, theology * although it addresses (or did address) in some sense all sciences (what is now known as physics was once known as philosophy), that tends to evolve so that known things become part of a named science, but unknown, unknowable, or speculative things remain part of philosophy. Here is the Merriam-Webster definition of philosophy--I think I'm using definitions 2, 3, and 4 more than 1, although 1 is applicable: <quote> 1 a (1): all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts (2): the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology <a doctor of philosophy> (3): the 4-year college course of a major seminary b (1)archaic : physical science (2): ethics c: a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology2 a: pursuit of wisdom b: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means c: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs3 a: a system of philosophical concepts b: a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought <the philosophy of war>4 a: the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group b: calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher </quote> You mention a possible cultural difference--what do you see that doesn't seem to fit? regards, Randy Kramer > Theology: no, it's too narrow (for study) > Spirit: no, can be ambiguous (IMHO) > > Spirituality sounds like the next candidate, but again, people may be > offended... _______________________________________________ xdg mailing list [email protected] http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/xdg
