THE DIVISIONS OF PHILOSOPHY

How philosophy is to be divided into sub-disciplines has seemed to fascinate

philosophers throughout its history. Four different approaches to the divisioning of
philosophy are given as diagrams below:

• The Aristotelian Division

• The Thomistic Division
• The Wolffian Division
• A Modern Revision by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty

In general, the following non-technical definitions will apply:

• Ontology: The philosophic science of the nature of being "in general"

• Epistemology: The philosophic science dealing with the problem of knowledge
• Psychology: Really "rational" or "philosophical" psychology, dealing with man as
a "being"
• Theodicy: The philosophic science of God, First Cause, Creator - sometimes
"natural theology"
• Logic: The philosophic science of correct thinking
• Ethics: The philosophic science dealing with human acts - sometimes "moral
philosophy"
• Politics: The philosophic science of man's social end, including the form of state
organization
• Axiology: The philosophic science which studies the general nature of "value"
• Aesthetics: The philosophic science which studies art, beauty, artistic value

The Aristotelian Division

Implicit in the writings of Aristotle.

Propaedeutic or Introductory Logic

Physics
Speculative Philosophy Mathematics
Metaphysics
Ethics
Practical Philosophy Politics
Poetical Philosophy Art
 The Thomistic Division

Implicit in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Propaedeutic Logic
Cosmology
Philosophy of Nature
Psychology
Speculative Philosophy of
Philosophy Mathematics
Ontology
Philosophy of Being
Natural Theology
Philosophy of Art
Ethics
Practical Philosophy
Philosophy of Morals Political
Philosophy

The Wolffian Division

Wolff (1679-1754) was a disciple of Leibniz and stressed the ontological aspects of the
philosophy of nature.
Some realistic philosophers prefer to follow him on this point.

General
Ontology
Metaphysics Psychology
Special
Cosmology
Theodicy
Logic
General
Normative Sciences Ethics
Special
Aesthetics
 A Modern Revision of the Divisions of Philosophy

by Jonathan Dolhenty, Ph.D.

Ontology

Psychology
Metaphysics
Descriptive Cosmology
Philosophy
Theodicy
Logic
Criteriology
Epistemology

Axiology
Individual
Social
Normative Ethics Medical
Scientific
Philosophy Special
Legal
Business
Politics
Aesthetics

Philosophy of Law
Philosophy of History
Philosophy of Science
As applied to Disciplines and Philosophy of Religion
Knowledge Philosophy of
Mathematics
Applied Philosophy of
Philosophy Education
Philosophical
Consulting for
As applied to Institutions and Institutions
Individuals Philosophical
Counseling for
Individuals