Abstract

This paper approximates a definitional distinction between philosophical problems and scientific problems. It defends the claim that philosophical problems can be defined as certain inconsistent sets ???? of propositions. This set is characterised by its minimality, the plausibility of its individual propositions, the non-empirical character of some of these propositions, and by the fact that a discursive context exists within which some of ????’s non-mathematical non-empirical assumptions are rejected by argument. In particular, this extrinsic and pragmatic criterion constitutes the novel character of the definition presented. Starting from the concept of philosophical problem, a classification of philosophy as an academic and intellectual discipline is presented. The last part of the paper deals with the question whether such an analytical understanding of philosophy is to be understood exclusively, or whether other kinds of philosophy should still be considered possible.