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Lesson 3

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In the continuing study of the terms and concepts central to the study of philosophy, this section completes the glossary of terms for this introductory course.

 

Glossary

Material cause: "The stuff or matter out of which something is made" (Geisler, 1980).

Materialism: The metaphysical position that contends that only physical matter and its properties exist (Pojman, 2000). This powerful worldview currently holds a dominant position among the academic and scientific communities of the world.

Matter: This refers to the substance(s) from which all physical objects in the universe are made. Basically, it is everything that exists except for mind. To a materialist, matter is all that exists.

Mind: This refers to the intellect or consciousness of a person, sometimes synonymous with "self". It refers to all the brain's conscious processes. In some schools of philosophical thought, the mind is thought of as having physical properties or a form unto itself. It is all that exists in the universe that is not considered matter. To some mystics, mind is all that exists.

Monism: The theory that all of existence is comprised of one substance, rather than two or more substances (Pojman, 2000). There is materialist monism, which holds that the universe is comprised of one type of material and idealist monism, which contends that reality is composed of spiritual things or ideas (Pojman, 2000).

Monotheism: The belief that only one God exists. The three largest monotheistic religions are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Mysticism: The philosophical position that there are states of consciousness or mind that exist beyond what can be experienced with the senses or in the physical world (Geisler, 1980). These states of mind also transcend reason. Much of eastern philosophy has a mystical component.

Natural law: In philosophy, this is a type of moral theory that says "the moral standards that govern human behavior are, in some sense, objectively derived from the nature of human beings and the nature of the world" (IEP, 2011). That is, there are inherent moral codes in existence and that human beings are able to follow them naturally.

Naturalism: This philosophy asserts that the natural, physical universe and all it contains is the sum total of existence. All moral actions within the universe operate in accordance with natural law. Due to its highly materialisticleanings, naturalism is fundamentally incompatible with mysticism.

Nihilism: "(…from the Latin nihil, nothing) is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value" (Free Dictionary, 2011).

Non sequitur: In logic, it is a conclusion that is not based on the precedingpremises (or propositions) (Geisler, 1980).

Noumena: Pronounced (NOO-men-ah), this concept refers to what a thing actually is, which may or may not be different from what it appears to be (phenomena).

Nous: In philosophy, this refers to the mind or intellect.

Object: Any thing, idea, entity, or being. Much debate surrounds whether or not objects can exist outside of the properties that define them (i.e., "a small red box", "a young Irish man", etc.).

Objecthood: The state of being an object.

Objectivism: "The view that moral principles have objective validity whether or not people recognize them as such; that is, moral rightness or wrongness does not depend on social approval but on independent considerations" (Pojman, 2000).

Panentheism: Not to be confused with pantheism, this view of the world believes that God exists within and interpenetrates everything in the physical universe, but also transcends it at the same time.

Pantheism: In cosmology, this refers to a belief that God and the universe are one and the same thing. Rather that coexisting with the universe or interpenetrating all things (as in panentheism), God is the universe and everything within it. This view is common in eastern religions and philosophy.

Phenomena: How things in the world appear. This may or may not be what they actually are (noumena).

Pluralism: The metaphysical belief that universe is comprised of a many (more than two) basic substances (Geisler, 1980).

Polytheism: A metaphysical position stating that multiple deities or gods exist. Many cultures throughout human history have had polytheistic religions.

Positivism: This was a counter-movement in philosophy that rejected the study of metaphysics in favor of a more scientific approach that ruled out phenomena which could not be observed and quantified.

Pragmatism: This is perhaps the most notable field in which American thinkers have contributed to the field of philosophy. Pragmatism believes that practical consequences are the criteria for truth.

Premise: "In logic, an argument is a set of one or more declarative sentences (or ‘propositions') known as the premises along with another declarative sentence (or ‘proposition') known as the conclusion. Aristotle held that any logical argument could be reduced to two premises and a conclusion" (Free Dictionary, 2011, italics added).

Proposition: In logic, a basic statement that can be affirmed or disproven by inductive or deductive reasoning. For example "no dogs are cats" or "all trains are heavy" are examples of propositions.

Rationalism: A school of philosophy that contends there are important truths that one can know with the mind even though one has never experienced them (Pojman, 2000).

Realism: The belief that a real world exists externally to the human mind or self and that it can be known.

Reality: Only in philosophy would a term such as "reality" need to be defined. In the case of metaphysics, it refers to everything that exists, whether or not we know about it or understand it.

Reason: A method of thinking defined by logical, methodical, and categorical means. Generally considered to be synonymous with objective thought.

Relativism: The philosophical assertion that there are no absolutes. The phrase "everything is relative" is a popular expression and summation of this philosophical view.

Skepticism: "The belief that one should doubt or suspend judgment on philosophical questions" (Geisler, 1980). In other words, one should not blindly accept what one is told as truth without further examination.

Solipsism: An unusual metaphysical view that posits "I alone exist". In epistemology, "…the view that one knows only himself, nothing more" (Geisler, 1980).

Subjectivism: An ethical theory that holds there are no universal, unchanging standards or right and wrong. Morality and moral judgments are completely left to the individual or subject.

Syllogism: The classic argument form in logic, created by Aristotle, consisting of two premises and a conclusion. Most often, a syllogism is used for deductive reasoning purposes.

Tabula rasa: From the Latin phrase meaning "blank slate". This is the belief that humans are born with no innate ideas, only the capacity to think (Geisler, 1980).

Tautology: Something that is true by virtue of its definition.

Teleology: In the philosophical sub-discipline of ethics, this view stresses the end result or consequences of an action. The opposite of motive.

Theism: "The belief that a person God exists and is providently involved in human affairs" (Pojman, 2000).

Transcendent: That which supersedes and exists beyond the physical universe or the physical state of being.

Universal: Similar to Plato's concept of forms, universals are the "…general concept or idea of a thing, as opposed to a particular instance or example" (Geisler, 1980).

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