Weltanschauung

A Weltanschauung (German expression calqued into English as worldview or world view) consists of a more-or-less systematised set of opinions on the structure of the universe, the meaning of life and one's relationship with society.

Historically, world views changed little and slowly, achieving wide (and often unquestioning) support. Postmodernism has encouraged a proliferation of ever-changing Weltanschauungen.

See also: paradigm, social reality, religion, philosophy, metaphysics, ontology.