Whom is considered to have coined the term 'philosophy'?

The term 'philosophy' is believed to have been coined by Pythagoras, who lived around 570-495 BCE. He is credited with introducing the term which literally means "love of wisdom" (from the Greek "philos" meaning love and "sophia" meaning wisdom). Pythagoras viewed philosophy as a pursuit dedicated to the quest for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, distinguishing it from the mere gathering of facts or data. His contributions laid foundational concepts for later philosophical thought and encouraged the development of systematic inquiry into existence, ethics, and knowledge.

Socrates, Confucius, and Aristotle are also highly significant figures in the history of philosophy but are not associated with the origination of the term itself. Socrates is known for his contributions to ethics and epistemology, Confucius is recognized for his teachings on morality and governance, and Aristotle, a student of Plato, greatly influenced numerous fields of study including metaphysics, ethics, and logic. Their philosophical legacies are built upon the groundwork laid by earlier thinkers like Pythagoras, who first articulated the concept of philosophy as a discipline.