Talking about Philosophy: English Vocabulary List

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 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."

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."

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 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."