What is your philosophy? Find out by answering thoughtfully these questions. It is probably easiest to print this page before answering.

http://philosopherswheel.com/questionnaire.htm Please update URL if needed.

If you want further clarification and explanation of the questions, try this article.

Please note that this questionnaire has been carefully researched and given to hundreds of people, and the questions were revised many times based on feedback from those who took the questionnaire.





Answer strongly agree, somewhat agree, yes and no/neutral, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree to each question. strongly agree somewhat agree yes&no/neutral somewhat disagree strongly disagree Note your answer in the column under each heading. Circle the scores there Questions 1-11 1. The Heart has its reasons, which Reason does not know. 4E 2S 2E 1S 0 2R 1M 4R 2M 2. The senses cannot be trusted to give us the truth. 3R 2S 2R 1S 0 2E 1M 3E 2M 3. There is a rational explanation for everything, since events are produced according to physical laws. 3R 3M 2R 2M 0 2E 2S 3E 3S 4. Your thoughts and beliefs create your reality. 4S 2S 0 2M 4M 5. Reason leads us to discover the general truths and ideas that explain all existing things. 4R 2R 0 2E 4E 6. If you would know the truth of life, look inward into yourself. 1E 4S 1E 2S 0 1R 2M 1R 4M 7. Since we're all different, and times change, there can't be universal standards of right and wrong. 4E 2E 0 2R 4R 8. Do not seek your treasure in the things of this world, but only in the eternal things. 2R 4S 1R 2S 0 1E 2M 2E 4M 9. Reality is fluid and ever-changing; thus forever beyond the grasp of the rigid, abstract concepts & categories of our thought and language. 4E 2E 0 2R 4R 10. Ultimately, the universe is made of solid and indivisible particles. 4M 2M 0 2S 4S 11. The universe is unfolding according to a divine plan and order. 3R 3S 2R 2S 0 2E 2M 3E 3M Add your circled scores here for questions 1-11 E_____S_____ E_____S_____ E_____S_____ E_____S_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ Questions 12-22 strongly agree somewhat agree yes&no/neutral somewhat disagree strongly disagree 12. A human has no fixed character, but only a history; you must choose your character and meaning of life. 4E 2E 0 2R 4R 13. Spirit or mind creates the world, and all our science can only describe the effects after-the-fact. 4S 2S 0 2M 4M 14. Faith is unreliable; we'd better trust to what we know. 3R 2M 2R 1M 0 2E 1S 3E 2S 15. Psychic abilities exist, proving mind over matter. 4S 2S 0 2M 4M 16. All knowledge is based on experience and observation; rational theories alone are only meaningless abstractions. 4E 2E 0 2R 4R 17. Act on moral principles as best you know them, rather than yielding to the temptations and passions of the moment. 4R 2R 0 2E 4E 18. With understanding and clear, logical thinking, you can solve almost any problem and increase your control of events. 4R 2R 0 2E 4E 19. You can't wait until you have the answers; you're not fully alive unless you are taking a risk. 4E 2E 0 2R 4R 20. Our personal souls will survive death, and perhaps be back on earth for another go-round. 4S 2S 0 2M 4M 21. The soul can only be free by overcoming the body. 4S 2R 2S 1R 0 2M 1E 4M 2E 22. I am not a number, I am a free man! (or woman) 3E 2S 2E 1S 0 2R 1M 3R 2M Add your circled scores here for questions 12-22 E_____S_____ E_____S_____ E_____S_____ E_____S_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ Questions 23-33 strongly agree somewhat agree yes&no/neutral somewhat disagree strongly disagree 23. Human consciousness and behavior can be fully explained in terms of the electro-chemistry of the brain and nervous system. 4M 2M 0 2S 4S 24. As Plato proved, a child has innate knowledge of mathematics; therefore eternal and rational truths exist. 4R 2R 0 2E 4E 25. Human history is largely explanable in terms of economic and technological conditions. 4M 2M 0 2S 4S 26. The best way to live is to follow the delightful energies of the body. Reason is only the outer bounds of energy. 4E 2M 2E 1M 0 2R 1S 4R 2S 27. Science will eventually give us most of the answers to what seems uncertain to us today. 4M 2R 2M 1R 0 2S 1E 4S 2E 28. There are universal symbols and archetypes that keep appearing in our experience. 3R 2S 2R 1S 0 2E 1M 3E 2M 29. Mathematics is probably one of the closest things to truth you can find. 4R 2R 0 2E 4E 30. Seeing is believing; whatever can't be touched, observed or tested experimentally probably doesn't exist. 3M 2E 2M 1E 0 2S 1R 3S 2R 31. By transcending the delusions of your thinking mind, you discover that you are not a separate ego, but are one with a greater being. 4S 2E 2S 1E 0 2M 1R 4M 2R 32. This is the best of all possible worlds; seen from God's viewpoint, all evil fits into a greater good. 4S 2S 0 2M 4M 33. God does not exist. 4M 2M 0 2S 4S Add your circled scores here for questions 23-33 E_____S_____ E_____S_____ E_____S_____ E_____S_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ Add your scores for questions 1-11, 12-22 and 23-33 here E_____S _____ E_____S_____ E_____S _____ E_____S _____ R_____M ____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____ R_____M_____

Then add all the E scores across the columns above _______

Then all the S scores ________

Then all the R scores ________

Then all the M scores ________

Write the larger letter scores above the smaller letter scores here:



E and R S and M _______ ________ minus _______ minus ________ equals _______ equals ________

For example:



E and R S and M 30E 20S minus 20R minus 10M equals 10E equals 10S

The meaning of the scores: what is your philosophy?

1-25 R = somewhat intellectual; You rely on reason and distrust feelings and experiences

25-50 R = definitely intellectual

50-75 R = extremely intellectual

1-25 E = somewhat experiential; You rely on your experience more than reason

25-50 E = definitely experiential

50-75 E = extremely experiential

1-25 S = somewhat spiritualist; Spiritual realities are prior to and explain material ones

25-50 S = definitely spiritualist

50-75 S = extremely spiritualist

1-25 M = somewhat materialist; Material realities are prior to and explain spiritual ones

25-50 M = definitely materialist

50-75 M = extremely materialist

If you are R and S, you are essentialist: universal ideas and archetypes are primary reality

If you are R and M, you are rationalist: the universe operates according to causal, logical laws

If you are E and S, you are existentialist: spontaneous flux of inner being is the primary reality

If you are E and M, you are empiricist: the test of experience determines truth

The approach to thinking shown by your score matches these Jungian functions and MBTI temperaments, although your temperament itself may be different:

R/S essentialist = N intuitive

R/M rationalist = T thinking

E/S existentialist = F feeling

E/M empiricist = S sensing

Here is a version of the philosophy wheel in which you can see the relationship of your score to your MBTI and Enneagram type, the chakras, and more.

See also the charts on the Philosophy Circle page.

Plot your score here on the map of the mind below. Your score places you in one of 32 quadrants.

In this next chart below I only show the quadrants. Imagine a circle around them.

I have estimated 2 defining keywords for each quadrant, and shown philosophers and traditions who I think may occupy them (positions are necessarily approximate). The quadrants in the opposite positions to each other, and same distance from the center, have opposite and complementary meanings.



Copyright 1990 by E. Alan Meece