ABSTRACT
Classification in philosophy must always be classification along the lines laid down by a definition of philosophy. As a matter of fact not every philosopher who has given us a more or less clear definition of philosophy has also attempted a definite classification of his subject-matter. The influence of the Platonic classification is also due, in part, to the fact that no systematic arrangement of the philosophical disciplines had come down from Aristotle. The most important classification of philosophy in modern times is that given by Hegel. He distinguishes a science of the origin of absolute knowledge from a specific exposition of its contents. But no attempt at a systematic classification of the disciplines which rank as 'philosophical' can be successful, so long as no single and universally acceptable definition of philosophy can be found.
