## Tags - Topics: - Additional: ## Definitions - a [[Theory of Everything]] that is ultimate, all-encompassing [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] explanation or description of reality - answering "Why is reality understandable?" "Why are the laws of nature as they are?" "[[Why is there something rather than nothing?]]" - unify [[Analytic philosophy|analytic]] and [[Continental philosophy|continental]] [[Philosophy]] - unify [[Western philosophy|western]] and [[Eastern philosophy|eastern]], [[dual]] and [[nondual]], philosophy - find objective or unify [[Ontology|ontology]], [[Ethics|ethics]], [[Metaphysics|metaphysics]], [[Epistemology|epistemology]], [[Logic]] ## Main resources - [Theory of everything (philosophy) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything_(philosophy)) <iframe src="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything_(philosophy)" allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" style="height:100%;width:100%; aspect-ratio: 16 / 5; "></iframe> ## AI # The Grand Map of Philosophical Theories of Everything This comprehensive map outlines the vast landscape of philosophical theories that attempt to explain reality in its entirety. Organized into categories and subcategories, it encompasses ancient to contemporary thought across different cultures and philosophical traditions. --- ## **I. Metaphysical Theories** ### **A. Monism** - **Materialism/Physicalism**: The belief that only physical matter exists, and everything can be explained by interactions of matter. - **Eliminative Materialism** - **Reductive Materialism** - **Non-Reductive Materialism** - **Idealism**: Reality is fundamentally mental or immaterial. - **Subjective Idealism** (Berkeley) - **Objective Idealism** (Schelling) - **Absolute Idealism** (Hegel) - **Transcendental Idealism** (Kant) - **Neutral Monism**: The fundamental substance is neither mental nor physical but neutral. - **Dual-Aspect Monism**: Mind and matter are two aspects of a single substance (Spinoza). - **Panpsychism**: Consciousness is a universal feature of all things. ### **B. Dualism** - **Substance Dualism**: Mind and body are distinct substances (Descartes). - **Property Dualism**: Physical substances have both physical and non-physical properties. ### **C. Pluralism** - Multiple fundamental substances or principles constitute reality. ### **D. Nihilism** - Denial of inherent meaning or value in life. --- ## **II. Ontological Theories** ### **A. Realism** - Universals and abstract entities exist independently of perception. ### **B. Nominalism** - Denial of universals; only particular objects exist. ### **C. Conceptualism** - Universals exist only within the mind and have no external reality. ### **D. Relativism** - Truth and moral values are relative to cultures or individuals. ### **E. Anti-Realism** - Denial of an objective reality independent of perceptions or theories. --- ## **III. Cosmological Theories** ### **A. Theism** - **Monotheism**: Belief in one God. - **Polytheism**: Belief in multiple gods. - **Pantheism**: God and the universe are identical. - **Panentheism**: God is greater than the universe and includes it. - **Deism**: God exists but does not intervene in the universe. ### **B. Atheism** - Denial of the existence of deities. ### **C. Agnosticism** - The existence of deities is unknown or unknowable. --- ## **IV. Epistemological Theories** ### **A. Rationalism** - Knowledge is primarily acquired through reason. ### **B. Empiricism** - Knowledge comes from sensory experience. ### **C. Pragmatism** - Truth is what works in practical terms. ### **D. Constructivism** - Knowledge is constructed by individuals through mental activity. ### **E. Skepticism** - Doubt about the possibility of certain knowledge. ### **F. Critical Rationalism** (Popper) - Knowledge advances through conjectures and refutations. ### **G. Coherentism** - Beliefs are justified if they cohere with other beliefs. ### **H. Foundationalism** - Knowledge is built upon basic, self-evident truths. --- ## **V. Ethical Theories** ### **A. Utilitarianism** - Actions are right if they promote happiness for the majority. ### **B. Deontological Ethics** (Kant) - Morality is based on adherence to rules or duties. ### **C. Virtue Ethics** (Aristotle) - Focus on developing virtuous character traits. ### **D. Existentialism** - Emphasis on individual freedom and responsibility. ### **E. Moral Nihilism** - Rejection of moral principles and values. --- ## **VI. Philosophical Systems** ### **A. Phenomenology** (Husserl) - Study of structures of consciousness from the first-person perspective. ### **B. Existentialism** (Sartre) - Focus on individual existence, freedom, and choice. ### **C. Structuralism** (Levi-Strauss) - Understanding human culture through underlying structures. ### **D. Post-Structuralism** (Derrida) - Critique of structuralism; focus on deconstruction of texts. ### **E. Marxism** - Analysis of class relations and societal conflict leading to revolutionary change. ### **F. Critical Theory** (Frankfurt School) - Critique of society and culture to reveal power structures. ### **G. Process Philosophy** (Whitehead) - Reality is characterized by dynamic processes rather than static entities. --- ## **VII. Eastern Philosophical Systems** ### **A. Hindu Philosophy** - **Advaita Vedanta**: Non-dualism; the self (Atman) and ultimate reality (Brahman) are one. - **Dvaita Vedanta**: Dualism; distinction between Atman and Brahman. ### **B. Buddhism** - **Theravada**: Focus on individual enlightenment. - **Mahayana**: Emphasis on the bodhisattva path to help others achieve enlightenment. - **Zen Buddhism**: Direct experience through meditation. ### **C. Taoism** - Harmony with the Tao, the fundamental principle underlying the universe. ### **D. Confucianism** - Ethical system focusing on social harmony and moral conduct. ### **E. Jainism** - Emphasis on non-violence and liberation of the soul. --- ## **VIII. Contemporary Theories** ### **A. Analytic Philosophy** - Emphasis on clarity of language and logical analysis. ### **B. Continental Philosophy** - Focus on historical context and human experience. ### **C. Postmodernism** - Skepticism towards grand narratives and objective truths. ### **D. Information Philosophy** - Reality is fundamentally informational. ### **E. Simulation Hypothesis** - The universe is a computer-generated simulation. --- ## **IX. Integral Theories** ### **A. Ken Wilber's Integral Theory** - Integrates insights from psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. ### **B. Transpersonal Psychology** - Studies spiritual aspects of the human experience. --- ## **X. Religious Philosophies** ### **A. Christian Philosophy** - Integration of Christian theology with philosophical methods. ### **B. Islamic Philosophy** - Philosophical thought within the Islamic tradition. ### **C. Jewish Philosophy** - Philosophical exploration of Jewish texts and traditions. ### **D. Sikh Philosophy** - Teachings focusing on the unity of God and equality of all beings. --- ## **XI. Philosophy of Mind** ### **A. Functionalism** - Mental states are defined by their functional roles. ### **B. Identity Theory** - Mental states are identical to brain states. ### **C. Behaviorism** - Psychology should focus on observable behavior. ### **D. Anomalous Monism** (Davidson) - Mental events are physical but cannot be predicted by laws. --- ## **XII. Meta-Ethical Theories** ### **A. Moral Realism** - Moral facts exist independently of our beliefs. ### **B. Moral Anti-Realism** - Denial of objective moral facts. ### **C. Emotivism** - Moral statements express emotional attitudes. ### **D. Prescriptivism** - Moral statements prescribe actions and are imperatives. --- ## **XIII. Philosophy of Science** ### **A. Logical Positivism** - Meaningful statements are either empirically verifiable or logically necessary. ### **B. Scientific Realism** - Scientific theories aim to describe the world as it is. ### **C. Instrumentalism** - Theories are tools for prediction, not necessarily true descriptions. ### **D. Constructive Empiricism** (van Fraassen) - Science aims for empirically adequate theories, not necessarily true ones. ### **E. Structural Realism** - We can know the structure of the physical world, not its nature. --- ## **XIV. Aesthetics** ### **A. Formalism** - Art is defined by its formal qualities. ### **B. Expressivism** - Art expresses the artist's emotions. ### **C. Institutional Theory** - Art is what the art world accepts as art. --- ## **XV. Philosophy of Language** ### **A. Logical Atomism** (Russell, early Wittgenstein) - World consists of logical facts that language can depict. ### **B. Ordinary Language Philosophy** (later Wittgenstein) - Philosophical problems arise from misunderstandings of ordinary language. ### **C. Speech Act Theory** (Austin, Searle) - Language performs actions, not just conveys information. --- ## **XVI. Social and Political Philosophy** ### **A. Liberalism** - Emphasis on individual rights and freedoms. ### **B. Conservatism** - Value of tradition and social order. ### **C. Socialism** - Advocates for social ownership and egalitarianism. ### **D. Anarchism** - Opposition to hierarchical authority. ### **E. Communitarianism** - Focus on community and collective responsibility. --- ## **XVII. Philosophy of Law** ### **A. Natural Law Theory** - Law is based on moral principles inherent in humans. ### **B. Legal Positivism** - Law is a set of rules enforced by the state. ### **C. Critical Legal Studies** - Law is a tool of oppression and needs to be critiqued. --- ## **XVIII. Environmental Philosophy** ### **A. Deep Ecology** - All living beings have intrinsic value. ### **B. Ecofeminism** - Links environmental issues with feminist perspectives. --- ## **XIX. Emerging Theories** ### **A. Quantum Consciousness Theories** - Consciousness arises from quantum processes in the brain. ### **B. Pancomputationalism** - The universe operates as a computational structure. ### **C. Transhumanism** - Advocates for enhancing humans through technology. --- ## **XX. Ancient Philosophical Systems** ### **A. Pre-Socratic Philosophies** - Early Greek thought focusing on natural explanations. ### **B. Platonism** - Theory of Forms; non-material abstract forms possess the highest reality. ### **C. Aristotelianism** - Emphasis on empirical observation and logic. ### **D. Stoicism** - Living in accordance with nature and reason. ### **E. Epicureanism** - Pursuit of pleasure through moderation. ### **F. Skepticism** - Questioning the possibility of certainty in knowledge. ### **G. Neoplatonism** - Philosophical system positing a single source from which all reality emanates. --- ## **XXI. Philosophy of Time** ### **A. Eternalism** - Past, present, and future are equally real. ### **B. Presentism** - Only the present moment is real. ### **C. Four-Dimensionalism** - Objects extend across time as four-dimensional entities. --- ## **XXII. Philosophy of Mathematics** ### **A. Logicism** - Mathematics is reducible to logical fundamentals. ### **B. Formalism** - Mathematics is manipulation of symbols according to rules. ### **C. Intuitionism** - Mathematics is a creation of the human mind. --- ## **XXIII. Philosophy of Religion** ### **A. Ontological Arguments** - Arguments for God's existence based on reason alone. ### **B. Cosmological Arguments** - Arguments from the existence of the universe. ### **C. Teleological Arguments** - Arguments from design and purpose in the world. --- ## **XXIV. Hermeticism and Esotericism** - Philosophical systems involving mystical and occult knowledge. --- ## **XXV. Metaphilosophy** - The study of the nature, aims, and methods of philosophy itself. --- ## **XXVI. Philosophy of Culture** - Examination of cultural phenomena through a philosophical lens. --- ## **XXVII. Experimental Philosophy** - Using empirical methods to inform philosophical inquiry. --- ## **XXVIII. Neurophilosophy** - Intersection of neuroscience and philosophy to study the mind. --- ## **XXIX. Evolutionary Epistemology** - Understanding knowledge as an adaptive evolutionary process. --- ## **XXX. Semiotics** - Study of signs, symbols, and their meaning. --- This map represents an expansive overview of philosophical attempts to understand and explain the nature of reality, knowledge, existence, and values. Each theory offers a unique lens through which to view the complexities of the universe and our place within it.