philosophaster
(fɪlɒsəʊˈfæstə(r))
[a. L. philosophaster, in It. filo-, philosofastro, f. L. philosoph-us: see -aster.]
A shallow or pseudo-philosopher; a smatterer or pretender in philosophy.
| 1611 Florio, Philosofastro, a smatterer in Philosophy, a foolish, pedanticall Philosophaster. 1650 H. More Observ. in Enthus. Tri., etc. (1656) 72 Superficiall Philosophasters. 1737 Bracken Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 95 A Philosophaster, or Quack-Doctor. 1894 Huxley Evolution & Ethics 26 The philosophy of philosophasters and..the moralizing of sentimentalists. |
Hence philosoˈphastering ppl. a., acting the philosopher, philosophizing pretentiously; philosoˈphastry, shallow or pseudo-philosophy.
| 1897 Q. Rev. Oct. 355 His philosophastering or martial strains are at best neutral. 1904 Saintsbury in Daily Chron. 22 Sept. 3/3 You cannot bridge the gulf that a God has set by any philosophastering theory. 1850 Fraser's Mag. XLI. 104 A little of the old leaven, pedantry and philosophastry. 1899 M. M. Snell in Dublin Rev. July 41 Victories over the philosophast[r]y of the Encyclopædia. |