The philosophy of philosophy. It steps back to ask: What is the purpose, method, and scope of philosophy itself? Is its goal to discover objective truths, to clarify concepts, or to provide wisdom for living? How does it differ from science? Metaphilosophy is inherently self-referential—it’s philosophy doing its own homework, examining its tools and its right to exist before building another grand system.
Metaphilosophy Example: The debate between analytic philosophy (which views philosophy as conceptual analysis) and continental philosophy (which views it as cultural critique and existential inquiry) is a Metaphilosophical debate. It's not about a specific philosophical problem, but about what philosophy is and should be.
by Dumu The Void February 4, 2026
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