Philosophy: English Vocabulary List

a structured method of reasoning in which truth is reached through the systematic exchange of logical arguments

"Dialectic uses logical arguments."

"Through a process of dialectic, they arrived at a mutually agreeable solution."

a person's overall philosophical perspective or worldview

"His weltanschauung changed."

"His weltanschauung was shaped by years of travel and reading."

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"

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."

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 philosophical concept or belief system that asserts the self as the only reality and that only the individual's mind is sure to exist

"Solipsism claims only the self exists."

"Solipsism is the philosophical position that the self is all that can be known to exist"

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"

a philosophical theory asserting that all of reality is fundamentally unified and derived from a single substance or principle

"Monism believes reality is one substance."

"Monism is a metaphysical view that reality is a unified whole"

a philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, reason, and laissez-faire capitalism

"Objectivism champions individual rights."

"Objectivism is a philosophy that champions individual rights, reason, and the principles of laissez-faire capitalism."

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 study of purpose, design, and final causes in the natural world, exploring the idea that things have inherent goals or intentions

"Teleology studies inherent goals."

"Teleology is the philosophical study of purpose and design, exploring how things have inherent goals or intentions."

the philosophy illustrating the core acknowledgment of one's existence through the act of thinking

"Cogito proves existence through thought."

"The cogito illustrates the fundamental acknowledgment of one's own existence derived from the very act of thinking."

a fundamental, indivisible entity or substance, often associated with Leibnizian philosophy, possessing inherent characteristics and reflecting the entire universe from its unique perspective

"A monad reflects the universe."

"Each monad, a fundamental indivisible substance, possesses unique characteristics and reflects the entire universe from its own distinct perspective."

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."

a philosophical term referring to the intrinsic nature of a thing, independent of human perception, in contrast to phenomena which are how things appear to human observers

"Noumenon is reality itself."

"The noumenon represents the intrinsic nature of a thing, existing independently of how it appears to our senses."

a state of existing beyond the bounds of physical or material experience

"It gives transcendence."

"The music provided a feeling of spiritual transcendence."

(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 Chinese philosophy and religion founded on the teachings of Lao-tzu and developed by Chuang-tzu, emphasizing harmony with the Tao, simplicity, and natural order

"He follows Taoism."

"Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao."

a philosophy advocating minimal government intervention and prioritizing individual freedom

"He believes in libertarianism."

"Libertarianism stresses individual freedom and minimal government."

the belief that reality consists of two fundamental and opposing components, such as mind and body or good and evil

"Dualism sees two parts."

"Dualism is the philosophical theory that the mind and the body are fundamentally different kinds of substances."

the philosophical doctrine that all events are predetermined and humans cannot change them

"Fatalism says fate controls all."

"Fatalism is the philosophical doctrine that all events are predetermined and that humans have no power to change them."

a philosophy method that reveals and challenges underlying assumptions in texts and concepts

"It is deconstruction."

"Deconstruction questions traditional assumptions in literature."

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."

related to the philosophical concepts of René Descartes, particularly his focus on rationalism and mind-body dualism

"The coordinate system is Cartesian."

"The Cartesian coordinate system uses two perpendicular lines to locate points on a plane and it is named after the philosopher Rene Descartes."

relating to the philosophical principles advocated by Immanuel Kant, focusing on rationality and morality

"His philosophy is Kantian."

"The Kantian philosophy emphasizes that moral actions must be based on duty and universal laws rather than on the consequences of those actions."

related to the teaching or method of questioning used by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates

"The method is Socratic."

"The Socratic method involves asking a series of questions to help students discover answers for themselves rather than simply being told facts."

relating to or characteristic of a philosophy that emphasizes intuition and the spiritual over empirical or material experience

"The meditation is transcendental."

"The transcendental meditation technique involves sitting quietly and repeating a mantra to achieve a state of deep relaxation and self awareness."

a fundamental belief or principle that is central to a system of thought, philosophy, or religion

"Freedom is a tenet."

"The principle of equality is a fundamental tenet of this philosophical system."

the belief that life is inherently meaningless, yet individuals can create their own meaning

"Absurdism says life is meaningless."

"Absurdism is the philosophical school arising from the conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the silent"