# contemporary philosophy > current period in the history of Western philosophy **Wikidata**: [Q943303](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q943303) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_philosophy) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/contemporary-philosophy ## Summary Contemporary philosophy is the current period in the history of Western philosophy, representing the ongoing evolution of philosophical thought in the modern era. It encompasses the latest developments, debates, and schools of thought that continue the intellectual tradition of Western civilization's philosophical inquiry. ## Key Facts - Contemporary philosophy is classified as instance of Q11862829 and subclass of Q842333 in Wikidata - Also known by alias: modern philosophy - Wikidata identifier: P373: Contemporary philosophy - Freebase ID: P646: /m/03dfth - Library of Congress ID: P1149: B790-B5802 - OCLC ID: P3417: Contemporary-Philosophy - ISNI ID: P6366: 522434184 - VIAF ID: P10283: C522434184 - DNB ID: P13750: 161939 - Sitelink count: 51 - Wikipedia title: Contemporary philosophy - Wikidata description: current period in the history of Western philosophy - Connected to Western philosophy as the current period (sitelink_count: 51) - Related to academic discipline as an academic field of study or profession (sitelink_count: 50) - Connected to Contemporary Islamic philosophy (sitelink_count: 7) ## FAQs ### What is contemporary philosophy? Contemporary philosophy is the current period in the history of Western philosophy, representing the ongoing evolution of philosophical thought in the modern era. It encompasses the latest developments, debates, and schools of thought that continue the intellectual tradition of Western civilization's philosophical inquiry. ### What are the main connections of contemporary philosophy? Contemporary philosophy is primarily connected to Western philosophy as the current period in its history with 51 related links. It is also related to academic discipline as an academic field of study or profession with 50 related links, and connected to Contemporary Islamic philosophy with 7 related links. ### What classification does contemporary philosophy have in knowledge systems? Contemporary philosophy is classified as instance of Q11862829 and subclass of Q842333 in Wikidata. It has multiple standardized identifiers including Freebase ID (/m/03dfth), Library of Congress ID (B790-B5802), OCLC ID (Contemporary-Philosophy), ISNI ID (522434184), VIAF ID (C522434184), and DNB ID (161939). ### Who are notable figures associated with contemporary philosophy? While the source material doesn't specify contemporary philosophers directly tied to this period, it shows connections to notable philosophers through Western philosophy, including Saul Kripke (American philosopher and logician, 1940–2022), Hannah Arendt (German-American political theorist and philosopher, 1906–1975), and Joseph Margolis (American philosopher, 1924–2021). ### What is the difference between contemporary philosophy and modern philosophy? Contemporary philosophy and modern philosophy are used as equivalent terms, with "modern philosophy" appearing as an alias for contemporary philosophy in the Wikidata classification system. ## Why It Matters Contemporary philosophy matters because it represents the living, evolving continuation of Western civilization's most fundamental intellectual tradition. As the current period in the history of Western philosophy, it addresses the most pressing questions, challenges, and developments facing humanity in the modern era, from technological ethics to global justice, consciousness studies to environmental philosophy. It serves as the intellectual foundation for contemporary debates in science, politics, ethics, and culture, providing the conceptual tools necessary for understanding and navigating complex modern issues. Contemporary philosophy maintains the tradition of rigorous inquiry and critical thinking that has shaped Western thought for millennia, ensuring that philosophical wisdom continues to inform and guide human understanding in an ever-changing world. Its significance lies not only in preserving philosophical traditions but in actively engaging with new challenges and discoveries that previous generations could not have anticipated. ## Notable For - Being the current period in the history of Western philosophy, representing the ongoing evolution of philosophical thought - Serving as the intellectual framework for addressing modern and postmodern challenges in ethics, politics, science, and technology - Maintaining continuity with the 2,500-year tradition of Western philosophical inquiry while adapting to contemporary concerns - Encompassing diverse philosophical schools and movements that reflect the complexity of modern intellectual life - Providing the theoretical foundation for contemporary academic disciplines and interdisciplinary research - Incorporating global perspectives while maintaining its roots in Western philosophical traditions - Addressing emerging questions about artificial intelligence, bioethics, climate change, and digital society - Bridging analytical and continental philosophical traditions in innovative ways ## Body ### Definition and Classification Contemporary philosophy is formally classified as instance of Q11862829 and subclass of Q842333 in Wikidata, with the primary identifier P373: Contemporary philosophy. The term also carries the alias "modern philosophy" in knowledge systems, indicating semantic equivalence between these concepts. Multiple standardized identifiers exist for contemporary philosophy across different bibliographic and knowledge systems: Freebase ID P646: /m/03dfth, Library of Congress ID P1149: B790-B5802, OCLC ID P3417: Contemporary-Philosophy, ISNI ID P6366: 522434184, VIAF ID P10283: C522434184, and DNB ID P13750: 161939. These identifiers demonstrate the formal recognition of contemporary philosophy as a distinct category within academic and bibliographic systems. ### Historical Context and Position Contemporary philosophy represents the current period in the history of Western philosophy, functioning as the temporal successor to earlier periods such as ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy. This positioning places it within the continuous intellectual tradition that has shaped Western thought for over two millennia. The relationship to Western philosophy is particularly significant, with 51 related links in knowledge systems indicating the strong connection between contemporary philosophy and the broader Western philosophical tradition. This connection demonstrates how contemporary philosophy maintains continuity with past philosophical developments while addressing current intellectual challenges and questions. ### Academic and Disciplinary Context Contemporary philosophy is related to academic discipline as an academic field of study or profession, with 50 related links in knowledge systems. This connection highlights the institutional framework within which contemporary philosophical work takes place, including university departments, research centers, scholarly journals, and professional associations. The academic context ensures that contemporary philosophy maintains rigorous standards of inquiry while fostering innovation and debate among scholars and researchers worldwide. ### Related Philosophical Traditions Contemporary philosophy connects to Contemporary Islamic philosophy with 7 related links, indicating cross-cultural philosophical dialogue and exchange in the modern period. This relationship suggests that contemporary philosophy, while rooted in Western traditions, engages with philosophical developments from other cultural and religious contexts, reflecting the increasingly global nature of philosophical inquiry in the contemporary period. ### Digital and Knowledge System Presence Contemporary philosophy maintains a substantial presence in digital knowledge systems with a sitelink count of 51, indicating its recognition and representation across various online platforms and knowledge repositories. The Wikipedia title "Contemporary philosophy" reflects its established position in accessible knowledge systems, making it available to both academic and general audiences. This digital presence ensures that contemporary philosophical ideas reach wide audiences and contribute to public intellectual discourse. ### Connection to Individual Philosophers While the source material doesn't provide specific contemporary philosophers directly tied to this period, the broader Western philosophy context indicates connections to significant modern figures such as Saul Kripke (American philosopher and logician, 1940–2022), Hannah Arendt (German-American political theorist and philosopher, 1906–1975), and Joseph Margolis (American philosopher, 1924–2021). These connections demonstrate how individual philosophical contributions shape and define the contemporary period. ### Philosophical Methodology and Approaches As part of the Western philosophical tradition, contemporary philosophy inherits methodological approaches developed over centuries of philosophical inquiry, including dialectical reasoning, logical analysis, phenomenological investigation, and hermeneutical interpretation. These methodologies continue to evolve and adapt to address contemporary questions and challenges, ensuring that philosophical rigor remains central to contemporary philosophical work. ### Contemporary Relevance and Applications Contemporary philosophy addresses current global challenges including technological ethics, environmental philosophy, bioethics, global justice, and the implications of scientific advances. This practical relevance demonstrates how philosophical thinking contributes to solving real-world problems and informing policy decisions in the modern era. The contemporary period in philosophy is characterized by its engagement with urgent contemporary issues while maintaining connection to fundamental philosophical questions about existence, knowledge, and value. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. Quora 3. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)