The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy

An expanded model adding two crucial dimensions to the basic framework. Axis 1: Analytic-Continental (style/method). Axis 2: Theoretical-Practical (concern). Axis 3: Realist-Antirealist (about truth, meaning, value). Axis 4: Individualist-Holist (focus on individual vs. social structures). These four axes create sixteen philosophical positions. Existentialism is continental, practical, often antirealist about universal values, individualist. Marxism is continental (originally), practical, realist about historical truth, holist (class structures primary). The 4 Axes reveal that philosophical schools are defined by clusters of commitments across multiple dimensions.

The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy "You think all Continental philosophy is the same. The 4 Axes show otherwise: existentialism is individualist, Marxism is holist. Same continent, different planets. The axes give you the coordinates to see that 'Continental' is a family, not a monolith."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 6 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy

A comprehensive model adding dimensions of method and scope. Axis 1: Analytic-Continental. Axis 2: Theoretical-Practical. Axis 3: Realist-Antirealist. Axis 4: Individualist-Holist. Axis 5: A Priori-A Posteriori (knowledge through reason alone vs. through experience). Axis 6: Foundationalist-Coherentist (knowledge needs foundations vs. web of belief). These six axes generate sixty-four philosophical positions. Kant is analytic-ish (proto), theoretical and practical, realist about noumena/antirealist about phenomena, individualist (transcendental subject), a priori (synthetic a priori), foundationalist (transcendental argument). The 6 Axes reveal that methodology and epistemology are inseparable from broader philosophical orientation.

The 6 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy "You want to do philosophy. The 6 Axes ask: analytic or continental? Theoretical or practical? Realist or antirealist? Individualist or holist? A priori or a posteriori? Foundationalist or coherentist? Six choices, and they're not independent—choose one, and others are constrained. The axes don't give you a philosophy—they force you to build one."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 8 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy

A detailed model adding dimensions of tradition and change. Axis 1: Analytic-Continental. Axis 2: Theoretical-Practical. Axis 3: Realist-Antirealist. Axis 4: Individualist-Holist. Axis 5: A Priori-A Posteriori. Axis 6: Foundationalist-Coherentist. Axis 7: Traditionalist-Progressive (philosophy conserves wisdom vs. philosophy critiques tradition). Axis 8: Systematic-Aphoristic (philosophy as system vs. philosophy as fragments/essays). These eight axes create 256 philosophical positions. Nietzsche is continental, practical, antirealist (about many things), individualist, a posteriori (genealogy), coherentist (will to power as organizing principle), progressive (critiques tradition), aphoristic. Hegel is analytic-ish, theoretical and practical, realist (Absolute), holist, a priori in some readings, foundationalist (dialectic), traditionalist (preserves while sublating), systematic. The 8 Axes demonstrate that style and relationship to tradition are as defining as content.

The 8 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy "You think philosophy is just arguments. The 8 Axes show that's one style—systematic, analytic, traditionalist. But aphoristic, progressive, continental philosophy exists, and it's not failed analytic philosophy—it's a different game. The axes help you see that philosophy is a family of practices, not a single method."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 12 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy

An ultra-fine-grained model adding dimensions of audience and purpose. Building on the 8 Axes, we add: Axis 9: Esoteric-Exoteric (philosophy for initiates vs. for everyone). Axis 10: Therapeutic-Investigative (philosophy heals vs. philosophy discovers). Axis 11: Descriptive-Prescriptive (philosophy describes reality vs. tells us how to live). Axis 12: Secular-Sacred (philosophy independent of religion vs. continuous with spiritual practice). These twelve axes generate 4096 philosophical positions. Stoicism is both theoretical and practical, realist (logos), individualist, a posteriori and a priori, coherentist, traditionalist (follow nature), aphoristic and systematic, exoteric, therapeutic, prescriptive, sacred (cosmos as divine). The 12 Axes reveal that ancient philosophy was often therapeutic and sacred—a very different project from modern academic philosophy.

The 12 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy "You think philosophy is useless because it doesn't make you happier. The 12 Axes ask: which philosophy? Stoicism is therapeutic—it's designed to make you happier. Academic metaphysics isn't. Same label, completely different purposes. The axes help you find the philosophy you need, not just the philosophy that exists."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 16 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy

The ultimate model, adding the final dimensions of relationship to science and to life. Building on the 12 Axes, we add: Axis 13: Scientistic-Humanistic (philosophy should emulate science vs. philosophy is distinct from science). Axis 14: Professional-Public (philosophy for academics vs. for everyone). Axis 15: Critical-Constructive (philosophy deconstructs vs. philosophy builds). Axis 16: Autonomous-Embedded (philosophy stands alone vs. embedded in culture, politics, life). These sixteen axes generate 65,536 potential positions—enough to capture every philosophical movement, every school, every thinker, every approach. The 16 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy reveal that philosophy is not a single discipline but a multidimensional space of practices, purposes, and styles. The 16 Axes don't tell you what to believe—they tell you who you are as a philosopher. And until you can answer them, you're not doing philosophy—you're just repeating what you've heard.

The 16 Axes of the Spectrum of Philosophy "You want to know what philosophy is. The 16 Axes answer: it depends. For Plato, philosophy was esoteric, sacred, constructive, embedded, humanistic, public, theoretical and practical, realist, holist, a priori, foundationalist, traditionalist, systematic, therapeutic, prescriptive. For a contemporary analytic philosopher, it's exoteric, secular, critical, autonomous, scientistic, professional, theoretical, realist or antirealist depending, individualist often, a posteriori often, coherentist often, progressive, systematic, investigative, descriptive. Same word, sixteen axes of difference. The axes don't define philosophy—they give you a language to ask what anyone means by it. And that's the most philosophical thing of all."

The axes allow you to locate any philosopher, any tradition, any text—and to understand what kind of philosophy you're doing, or want to do. Are you analytic or continental? Theoretical or practical? Realist or antirealist? Individualist or holist? A priori or a posteriori? Foundationalist or coherentist? Traditionalist or progressive? Systematic or aphoristic? Esoteric or exoteric? Therapeutic or investigative? Descriptive or prescriptive? Secular or sacred? Scientistic or humanistic? Professional or public? Critical or constructive? Autonomous or embedded? Sixteen questions, and your answers define your philosophy.

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026