What is Analytic Philosophy and why is it different from Continental Philosophy
In: Other
Analytic philosophy tends to be more closely related to mathematics and the hard sciences, so much so that many of the foundational analytic philosophers like Bertrand Russell and Gottlob Frege were also mathematicians. As a branch of philosophy it often still involves traditional philosophical topics like ethics and political philosophy, but it does so with an emphasis on extreme logical rigor, making statements as clear and precise as possible, a general belief in reductionism (the idea that things can be understood as a sum of their parts), and when possible integrating scientific knowledge into philosophical thought.
Continental philosophy is perhaps more tied to fields like history and the soft sciences, though it’s hard to make specific comparisons because the term is used to refer to a very broad collection of ideas and philosophers. Often, though not always, continental philosophy is more skeptical of science as a catch-all tool for explaining reality. Often, though not always, continental philosophy places more of an emphasis on cultural and historical factors when considering philosophical ideas. Often, though not always, continental philosophers tend to be more concerned with and involved in politics. All sorts of different philosophers from Nietzsche to Marx are grouped together into this category, so again there aren’t many statements that apply in full generality to this branch of philosophy.
Latest Answers