serious philosophy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious philosophy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a branch of philosophy that deals with profound or significant questions and ideas, often in a scholarly context. Example: "The course will explore serious philosophy, examining the works of major thinkers throughout history."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But even in the world of serious philosophy, amateurs outrank the professionals.

The Guardian - Opinion

Before his book The Emotions: A Philosophical Exploration (2000), there had been little serious philosophy on this topic, which was considered too subjective for rigorous analysis.

The Guardian

Indeed, Blackburn says, "almost all the trends in the last generation of serious philosophy lent aid and comfort to the 'anything goes' climate" — the very climate that, Harry Frankfurt argued, has encouraged the proliferation of bullshit.

The New Yorker

As Friedrich Adolf Trendelenburg, a German philosopher, saw it, Aristotle's personality and works must be known as exactly as possible because he provides the indispensable historical basis of any serious philosophy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Now, David Brooks is a serious, philosophy-reading conservative.

The Guardian - Opinion

While anyone who's had the pleasure of a Sunday evening dancing in the company of Janson throughout his Panorama Bar residency (or elsewhere), will surely think he doth protest too much, in an industry awash in earnest, self-serious philosophy, the passionate but tongue-in-cheek approach established by TCK allows the music to speak for itself.

Vice

Philosophy and poetry were suitable as pastimes for senators; few, however, were as serious about philosophy as the younger Cato and Cicero.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He made serious political philosophy fun and advanced high moral arguments in a way that stripped them of pretension and pomposity.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is a broad array of student clubs — serious (the Philosophy Society, the Humanist Society), hedonistic (ChocSoc, for chocolate lovers, or the Water of Life Society, devoted to whiskey tasting) or peculiarly Scottish (Edinburgh's Highland Society and the St. Andrews University Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Appreciation Society) — many of them meeting at pubs.

The New York Times

The serious, positive philosophy that students detect at such centers will likely have a major impact on their future careers.

Rice

"In a particularly despicable commercial...[Moak] takes a quote from fictional satire and attributes it as a serious life philosophy of Ben's," she wrote.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serious philosophy" to denote philosophical inquiry that is characterized by depth, rigor, and a commitment to exploring fundamental questions.

Common error

Avoid using "serious philosophy" in casual conversation or informal writing where a simpler term like "deep thought" or "philosophical idea" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious philosophy" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "serious" modifies the noun "philosophy". It describes a particular kind of philosophy, emphasizing its depth and importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious philosophy" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe philosophical inquiry characterized by depth and rigor. While relatively infrequent, as noted by Ludwig, it appears most commonly in news media, encyclopedias and scientific contexts. Consider related terms such as "profound philosophical inquiry" or "rigorous philosophical analysis" for nuanced expressions. While Ludwig confirms the phrase's validity, it's essential to ensure that its usage aligns with the formality of the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profound philosophical inquiry

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the philosophical investigation.

rigorous philosophical analysis

Highlights the strictness and thoroughness of the philosophical analysis.

in-depth philosophical exploration

Focuses on the thoroughness and detail of the philosophical exploration.

substantive philosophical thought

Highlights the significant and important nature of the philosophical thought.

deep philosophical reflection

Emphasizes the contemplative and thoughtful nature of the philosophy.

complex philosophical considerations

Highlights the intricate and multifaceted aspects of the philosophy.

thorough philosophical examination

Focuses on the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of the philosophical examination.

scholarly philosophical discourse

Emphasizes the academic and erudite nature of the philosophical discussion.

intellectual philosophical pursuit

Highlights the mental and cognitive aspects of the philosophical endeavor.

advanced philosophical studies

Focuses on the sophisticated and higher-level aspects of philosophical learning.

FAQs

How can I incorporate "serious philosophy" into a sentence?

You can use "serious philosophy" to describe a field of study, a type of discussion, or an approach to thinking. For example, "Her dissertation explored topics in "serious philosophy"".

What are some alternatives to saying "serious philosophy"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "profound philosophical inquiry", "rigorous philosophical analysis", or "in-depth philosophical exploration".

Is it redundant to say "serious philosophy", or is there a specific nuance?

While philosophy inherently implies seriousness of thought, specifying "serious philosophy" can emphasize the depth and rigor of the philosophical inquiry, differentiating it from more casual or superficial discussions.

What distinguishes "serious philosophy" from other types of philosophy?

"Serious philosophy" typically involves a rigorous and systematic approach to fundamental questions, often within an academic or scholarly context, setting it apart from more casual or personal philosophical reflections.