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Key Philosophical Concepts

By Ava Rajasooria


Philosophy is defined as a ‘systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, knowledge, mind, reason, language, and value’.


Here, we will briefly introduce ten fundamental philosophical ideas. You most likely have heard of these concepts before, but may not have known the meaning of them. 


1 - Stoicism


Philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus are key contributors to stoicism. There is a common belief that stoicism is about being emotionless, but in truth, it is to do with perseverance and wisdom. It focuses on being aware of negative reactions and changing them to take a more positive outlook on life. 


It aims to develop self-control as a means of achieving emotional resilience.


2 - Nihilism


Nihilism is most associated with the famous philosopher Nietzsche. It is the doctrine that there is no point in having values as nothing can be known or communicated. Some say a ‘true nihilist’ believes in nothing, has no loyalties, and no purpose.


It is considered an extreme pessimism. 


3 - Absurdism


This contrasts greatly with nihilism. Whilst nihilism has a rather negative outlook on life, absurdism embraces chaos and uncertainty. It is a philosophical outlook that explores the difference between our life meanings and purposes, and the indifferent nature of our world.


4 - Existentialism


Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir are philosophers who have delved into existentialism. It emphasises the idea that existence leads up to essence, basically saying that there are no predetermined paths (like fate or destiny). 


A philosophy that recognises individual freedom and choice. 


5 - Metaphysics


Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that explores the ‘first principles’ of things. It includes many abstract ideas such as being and space. An example of metaphysics is how some scientists try to analyse the nature of time, trying to figure out if it is linear or something else entirely.


6 - Epistemology


This is the study of knowledge. It questions the nature of knowledge and the extent to which we are aware of. 


The Gettier Problem is one regarding whether or not a situation is determined by knowledge or luck. For example, if someone claims that there are cows in the distance, and it turns out to be true, are they correct due to their knowledge or were they lucky that the cow-shaped objects they saw turned out to actually be cows?


7 - “I think, therefore I am”


In latin, this phrase is known as ‘cogito ergo sum’. The well known statement “I think, therefore I am” is actually a pretty confusing translation. A better one may be “I am thinking, therefore I exist”. This was said by philosopher Rene Descarte, and is one of the most quoted philosophical expressions.


It asserts that the act of thinking is proof of our existence. Our consciousness creates certainty in this. 


8 - Determinism


Determinism is the belief that all events, including our own human actions, are determined by external causes. Some take determinism as a direct opposition to free will and existentialism. This counts as a branch of metaphysics.


9 - Utilitarianism


While it is a philosophical theory, utilitarianism is widely applied to economics. It is the idea that some things (or people) must be sacrificed to maximise the overall happiness or utility in the greatest number of people. 


Basically, it is to improve society as a whole, potentially even at the cost of the minority. 


10 - Moral relativism


This is a view that moral principles are not universally valid but depend on external factors such as culture, societal norms, or individual perspectives. Some use this as a justification against judging morals in a way that is the most “normal”. For instance, it is believed that we cannot judge historical values as that was the way the majority of people felt in that time period. Additionally, some refrain from passing perspectives on beliefs and practices to other cultures other than their own. 




Overall, this article serves to hopefully introduce and explore some philosophical ideas.


Thank you for reading !!





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