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to philosophize

to philosophize

6 8.1
Think or talk about big ideas like life and truth
  • verb
  • /fɪˈlɑːsəˌfaɪz/
  • US
translation icon : filosofar
  • The students began to philosophize about morality and ethics in their latest class.

And in fact, you philosophize in order to live.

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Examples

  • When we gather at the café, we like to philosophize about life and the universe.

  • Money meant little to him. He liked to, as the Russians put it, philosophize.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • And in fact, you philosophize in order to live.

  • It's good to philosophize, but you have to be a role model for action.

  • Actually, it was through him in a way that we came to the conclusion that we would have to philosophize.

    Academic text (2016)
  • But if you want to philosophize, well, I think that's what you need to do.

  • Then why have you come here philosophizing?" I said, suddenly angry.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • You know, watching the trains, philosophizing and drinking beer.

  • All of this was done with the aim of philosophizing about beauty and its import.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The best way to philosophize about education, I contend, would be to consider attempts at the education of philosophy.

    Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

to theorize
vsto philosophize
39 6.1

Form an idea to explain why something happens with little proof

is broader, dealing with deep abstract speculation not only explanations
to intellectualize
vsto philosophize
2 7.9

To think about something in a logical way instead of showing emotions

focuses on deep, fundamental or theoretical questions rather than emotion avoidance
to rationalize
vsto philosophize
  • US
1 5.3

Think in a logical way to make decisions

focuses on deep, abstract questioning rather than practical logic

How Philosophical

to philosophize
  • US
6 8.1
to theorize
39 6.1
to speculate
254 4.8
to reflect
265 3.9
to think
1.0

Surface Forms

philosophize infinitive
philosophized past participle
philosophizing present participle
philosophizes third person singular

Morphology

philosophize = philosophy (transparent) = philosoph + ize

A direct verb-forming suffix '-ize' applied to the base 'philosophy', yielding 'to engage in philosophical discussion or speculation', which is straightforward for learners familiar with 'philosophy'.

Etymology

The word philosophize comes from Greek parts philo- meaning 'love' and -sophy meaning 'wisdom' and it uses the same root as philosophy. So to philosophize is to 'love wisdom', that is, to think or talk about deep ideas.