Meanings
- uncountablehuman sciencesA supposed essential core of philosophical beliefs epitomized in various writers from different temporal and geographic zones.
But what we are able to conclude about the meaning of the philosophia perennis in modern philosophy, based on the writings of the various philosophers mentioned here, is at once limited and tenuous.
1997, William W Quinn, The Only Tradition, New York, page 81Synonyms: perennial philosophy
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA supposed essential core of philosophical beliefs epitomized in various writers from different temporal and geographic zones.
Origin
- Latinphilosophia“philosophy”
- Englishphilosophia perennis
From Latin philosophia (“philosophy”) + perennis (“perennial”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
philosophia perennis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/philosophia%20perennis
“philosophia perennis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/philosophia%20perennis. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “philosophia perennis,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/philosophia%20perennis.
Source: philosophia perennis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.