I Think, Therefore I Am!: English Vocabulary List

the branch of philosophy that studies moral values and principles

"Ethics studies moral principles."

"Ethics explores the principles that guide human conduct and moral decision-making."

the branch of philosophy that studies the nature, sources, and limits of knowledge

"Epistemology studies knowledge and belief."

"Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature and limits of human knowledge."

a system of thought based on human values and nature in which solving human problems is considered more important than religious beliefs

"Humanism values human needs."

"Humanism focuses on human potential and well-being, rather than divine intervention."

a branch of philosophy that deals with abstract concepts such as existence or reality

"Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that asks what reality really is."

"Metaphysics is the philosophical inquiry into the fundamental nature of being"

the branch of philosophy that is concerned with concepts such as existence, being, and reality

"Ontology studies existence and being."

"Ontology is the study of existence and the categorization of entities"

the theory or doctrine that all events and occurrences are completely determined by previously existing causes, therefore human beings cannot be punished or held accountable for their deeds

"Determinism argues that all events are predetermined."

"Determinism is the idea that all events are caused by previous events."

an ethical doctrine holding that the pursuit of pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of life

"Hedonism prioritizes pleasure above everything else"

"Modern hedonism often ignores long-term consequences of choices."

(philosophy) the belief that the physical world is either a product of the mind, or is entirely subjective and exists only in the mind

"Idealism sees mind shaping reality."

"Idealism argues that reality is fundamentally shaped by our minds and perceptions."

(in philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is derived from sensory experience rather than theory or intuition

"Empiricism needs senses."

"Empiricism emphasizes that all knowledge originates from sensory experience and observation."

a philosophical theory according to which the world has no meaning and humans are free and responsible for their actions

"Existentialism says life is free."

"Existentialism suggests that individuals must create their own purpose in a meaningless world."

the philosophical belief that the spiritual world does not exist and the only thing that exists is physical matter

"Materialism believes only matter."

"Materialism asserts that only physical matter and energy are real."

the rejection or denial of all established authority, values, and institutions

"Nihilism rejects all moral principles."

"Nihilism is a philosophical doctrine that rejects all religious and moral principles"

a philosophical system based on things that can be proved by logic or experienced with the senses, rejecting metaphysics and theism

"Logical positivism philosophy."

"Logical positivism philosophy emphasizes that knowledge comes only from observable facts and science."

a philosophical movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasizing the practical consequences and real-world effectiveness of beliefs, theories, and actions

"Pragmatism focuses on practical results."

"Pragmatism emphasizes the practical consequences and real-world effectiveness of beliefs, theories, and actions."

the belief or principle that ideas and actions should be based on logic instead of religion or emotion

"Rationalism relies on logic."

"Rationalism values logical reasoning over tradition when solving complex problems."

a system of philosophy based on religious scripts and principles and Aristotelian logic, taught in medieval European universities

"Medieval scholasticism emphasized logical reasoning."

"Medieval scholasticism tried to combine religious faith with logical reasoning in universities."

an ancient Greek philosophy that values virtue and encourages living in harmony with nature's divine Reason

"Stoicism values living with nature."

"Stoicism teaches that virtue and reason are the highest goods, guiding one to live in harmony with nature's divine Reason."

a notion in philosophy according to which knowledge, moral values, and ethical obligations are subjective and there is no external or objective truth

"Subjectivism says truth is personal."

"Subjectivism is a philosophical doctrine that knowledge and morality are relative to the individual subject"

the doctrine that the best measure or decision is the one that satisfies the majority of people

"Utilitarianism helps the majority."

"The politician's decision was based on utilitarianism, aiming for the greatest benefit for the largest number of citizens."

the branch of philosophy concerned with things that exist and can be seen, felt, etc. as opposed to what may actually be their real existence

"Phenomenology studies the structure of experience."

"Husserl phenomenology studies human experience and consciousness from a first person view."

‌the feeling that one is different from others and therefore not part of a particular group

"Alienation makes workers feel lonely."

"The factory worker felt a deep sense of alienation as the repetitive assembly line tasks made him feel like a small cog in a huge uncaring machine."

using the previous knowledge, reasoning, or general facts to decide the likely result of something

"It is an a priori assumption."

"It is an a priori assumption that all humans are born with certain natural rights."

using observation or experience to determine the probable cause of something

"We have a posteriori knowledge."

"We have a posteriori knowledge based on our experiences rather than pure logic or reasoning."

non-existence; a state in which nothing exists

"The philosopher wrote about the concept of nothingness."

"He experienced a deep feeling of nothingness after losing everything important in his life."

a belief or a belief system held by an authority who proclaims it to be undeniably true and expects immediate acceptance

"The church's dogma is hard to change."

"The church's dogma was accepted by all members without question or doubt for centuries."

a positive moral quality or admirable trait in a person

"Honesty is a virtue."

"Patience is a virtue that can be cultivated through practice and self-awareness."

the branch of philosophy which deals with the nature of beauty and art

"Aesthetics is the study of beauty."

"The aesthetics of modern architecture often prioritize clean lines and minimal decoration."

the philosophical theory that certain knowledge is unattainable

"Skepticism doubts certain knowledge."

"Healthy skepticism encourages people to question claims until they see solid evidence."

the state of existing

"His being is peaceful."

"The profound sense of inner peace and contentment that she experienced was a testament to her spiritual journey and her very being."

a person's awareness, viewpoint, or attitude regarding a specific issue or domain

"Consciousness is awareness."

"The patient lost consciousness for a few seconds after hitting his head on the ground."

sensible methods of thinking and decision making, especially ones that are based on reasonable judgment

"Use logic for decisions."

"Applying sound logic to the complex economic data, the analyst was able to predict the market's downturn with remarkable accuracy."

the quality of being knowledgeable, experienced, and able to make good decisions and judgments

"Wisdom comes from experience"

"Ancient wisdom teaches us valuable lessons about life and how to live happily every day."

a teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greek with a skeptical attitude

"Clever sophist argued."

"The clever sophist argued skillfully but his arguments were not based on real truth."