Philosophy Basic Definitions

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Axiom

Back 1

a proposition that is not proved or demonstrated but considered to be self-evident and taken for granted.

Hint 1

Proposition

Front 2

Causality

Back 2

the law that states that each cause has a specific effect, and that this effect is dependent on the initial identitiesof the agents involved.

Hint 2

Cause and Effect

Front 3

Consciousness

Back 3

the faculty which perceives and identifies things that exist, and the relationship between oneself and one's environment.

Hint 3

To be or not to be

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Entity

Back 4

something that has a distinct and separate existence, although not necessarily a material existence.

Front 5

Fallacy

Back 5

any sort of mistake in reasoning or inference (essentially, anything that causes an argument to go wrong).

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Freehought

Back 6

the general philosophical viewpoint that holds that beliefs should be formed on the basis of science and logic, and should not be influenced by emotion, authority, tradition, or dogma.

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Hermeneutics

Back 7

the study of theories of the interpretation and understanding of texts (often the Bible).

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Infinite Regress

Back 8

a causal relationshiptransmitted through an indefinite number of terms in a series, with no term that begins the causal chain (going back through a chain forever).

Front 9

Inductive Reasoning

Back 9

reasoning that proceeds from particular information to derive general principles (arriving at a reliable generalization from observations).

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Instantiation

Back 10

the representation of an ideain the form of an instance or example of it.

Front 11

Law of Non-Contradiction

Back 11

the basic law of logic which states that it is not possible for something to be and not be at the same time.

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Paradox

Back 12

a statement or sentiment that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense, and yet is perhaps true in fact, or a statement that is actually self-contradictory (and therefore false) even though it appears true.

Front 13

Noumenon

Back 13

the intellectual conception of a thing as it is in itself, not as it is known through perception (c.f. Phenomenon).

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Phenomenon

Back 14

a thing as it appears to be, as constructed by the mind and perceived by the senses (c.f. Noumenon).

Front 15

Nihilism

Back 15

The rejection of all religious and moral principles. Belief that life is meaningless.