Philosophy - Vocabulary Flashcards from Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on philosophy, its nature, branches, and fundamental principles.

Philosophy

A field that seeks wisdom and understanding about life, reality, truth, morality, and existence; literally meaning love of wisdom; considered a science, a way of life, and a persistent quest for knowledge and truth.

Socrates

Ancient Greek philosopher famous for the claim that an unexamined life is not worth living.

Unexamined life

A life in which actions, values, beliefs, and purpose are not questioned; such a life is not truly living.

Philosopher

A person who seeks wisdom by asking deep questions about life, reality, truth, morality, and existence; a lover of wisdom who thinks deeply and critically.

Etymology of philosophy

Philo means love or friendship; Sophia means wisdom; together they point to the love of wisdom.

Literal meaning of philosophy

Love of wisdom.

Who can be a philosopher?

Anyone who asks deep questions, thinks critically about truth, right and wrong, and meaning, and who loves wisdom.

Curiosity

A tendency to ask Why? and What if? often, driving questions and exploration.

Deep thinking

Thinking beyond surface explanations; examining beliefs rather than accepting them at face value.

Seeking truth

Being honest and open to learning in order to pursue accurate understanding.

Reflecting on life

Understanding oneself and others through thoughtful consideration of experiences and choices.

Practicing good reasoning

Using logic and sound argumentation rather than relying solely on emotions.

Philosophy as universal

The idea that philosophy applies to all areas of life—science, religion, politics, art, and relationships—providing a broad perspective.

Philosophy as a search for truth

Philosophy is not about memorizing facts but about seeking deeper truths and understanding.

Philosophy as a rational activity

Uses reasoning and critical thinking to explore important questions about the world, life, values, and existence.

Philosophy as open-minded inquiry

Welcomes different viewpoints, is open to questioning everything, and values dialogue and debate.

Philosophy means the love of reasoning

Philosophy centers on the love of reasoning, with wisdom as its primary goal.

Natural light of reason

Philosophical investigation uses human natural thinking capacity, not laboratory tools or supernatural methods.

Philosophy as a science

An organized, systematic body of knowledge that follows procedures, like other sciences.

Principle of Identity

Everything is what it is; nothing is what it is not in the same respect (e.g., a seed is a seed).

Principle of Non-Contradiction

It is impossible for something to be both A and not A at the same time in the same sense.

Principle of Excluded Middle

Every statement is either true or false; there is no middle ground (no in-between).

Principle of Sufficient Reason

There is a sufficient reason for the existence of everything; nothing exists without a reason.

First Cause or Highest Principle

A foundational principle from which everything proceeds; a primary explanation or reason for existence.

Origin of Philosophy

Greece is the birthplace of Western philosophy; Thales is regarded as the father of Western philosophy.

Thales

Early philosopher who sought unity behind multiplicity; distinguished religion from philosophy by grounding inquiry in reason.

Metaphysics

Branch of philosophy dealing with the origin of being and existence, including questions about the meaning and purpose of life and whether God exists.

Epistemology

Branch of philosophy focused on the nature of knowledge, its origin, verification, and the mind's relation to reality.

Ethics

Moral philosophy; studies right and wrong, what one ought to do, and norms of human conduct.

Aesthetics

Study of beauty, art, and the nature of aesthetic experience; questions about whether art is subjective.

Logic

Study of systematic thinking and argumentation to form sound arguments (example: syllogisms such as All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; Therefore Socrates is mortal).