philosophischen

Philosophischen is the inflected form of the German adjective philosophisch, meaning philosophical. It is used to describe nouns related to philosophy, or to indicate a philosophical approach, quality, or character. As an attributive adjective, its ending varies according to case, gender, number, and the presence of a determiner.

In typical usage, philosophischen appears in plural after a determiner: die philosophischen Ideen, die philosophischen Theorien. In singular contexts it occurs in various cases: dem philosophischen Konzept (dative singular, neuter concept), des philosophischen Prinzips (genitive singular, neuter principle). For feminine nouns, forms include der philosophischen Schule (genitive singular) and den philosophischen Fragen (dative plural). In strong declension, used without a determiner, the endings differ, for example philosophischer (masculine nominative singular) or philosophische (feminine or neuter nominative singular).

Predicative use is not typical with this form: the predicative adjective is usually philosophisch, as in Die Frage ist philosophisch.

Etymology and scope: the word derives from Greek philosophia, literally the love of wisdom, and in German it denotes relation to philosophy, systematic thinking, or methodological approaches. In practice, philosophischen appears frequently in academic writing, criticism, and discussions of ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and related fields.

See also: philosophy, philosophical method, philosophical literature.