WJEC A level Philosophy all key terms

a posteriori

a statement that is based on actual observation, evidence, experimental data or experience- relates to inductive reasoning

cosmological and teleological argument

two examples of inductive arguments that use the evidence of, and within, the universe to attempt to prove the God of classical theism

empirically

using knowledge gained through the experiences of any of the five senses

inductive proof

Argument constructed on evidence and/or experience that puts forward a possible conclusion based on these.

posit

to put forward, or state, a fact or belief, usually as the basis for an argument or conclusion

actuality

when something is in its fully realised state

efficient cause

the 'third party' that moves potentiality to actuality

potentiality

The ability to be able to become something else

contingent

anything that depends on something else (in the case of a contingent being- it is contingent upon another being for its existence, eg a child is contingent upon its parent)

intermediate causes

this refers to a cause that relies on something else to have triggered it

necessary being

Aquinas' contention that a non-contingent being is necessary for contingent beings to exist. It is this necessary being that is the source of all existence for all other contingent beings

ultimate cause

in the sense of Aquinas' writings, this is the end cause in the sequence that could not have occurred had there not been preceding efficient and intermediate causes

actual infinite

Something that is actually infinite in extent or in extent of the operations performed - it literally has no beginning and no end

apologist

an individual who write or speaks in defence of a particular cause or belief

temporal

things relating to time

potential infinite

something we could continue on, were effort to be applied eg we could always come up with a bigger number

Telos

the end, goal, or purpose of something- frequently used by Aristotle

anthropic

related to being human

natural world

The world of nature, comprising of all objects, organic and inorganic.

aesthetic

related to the concept and appreciation of beauty

fallacy of composition

philosophical notion that what is true of the parts is not necessarily true of the whole (ie atoms are colourless but cats are not, despite being made of atoms)

God of Classical Theism

The God that is generally associated with the Western monotheistic religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

A priori

without or prior to evidence or experience

deductive proof

A proof in which, if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true.

ontological argument

Argument for the existence of God based on the concept of the nature of being.

premise

a statement or proposition used to construct an argument

Proslogion

A work written by Anselm, used as a meditation, but including within it the classical form of the ontological argument

Faith

strong belief or trust in someone or something

reason

the use of logic in thought processes or putting forward an argument

attribute

a descriptive characteristic that someone or something possesses

perfection

The complete absence of flaws also the ultimate state of a positive trait.

intrinsic maximum

a term often associated in the context of the ontological argument with English philosopher, Charles Dunbar Broad, to refer to the necessary properties of God- in that they must possess this intrinsic maximum in order for the definiton of God to be the greatest possible being to be accurate

reductio ad absurdum

an argument that shows a statement to be false or absurd if its logical conclusions were to be accepted

predicate

a defining characteristic or attribute

thaler

Currency used in 18th Century Prussia.

evil

anything that causes pain or suffering

moral evil

evil classed as a result of the actions of a free-will agent

natural evil

evil caused by the means of a force outside of the control of free will agents , usually referred to as nature

Omnibenevolent

all-loving

omnipotent

all-powerful

privation

the absence or loss of something that is normally present (ie a privation of health means that a person is ill and not healthy)

redemption

the act of saving something or someone. In the Christian context it refers to Jesus saving humanity from sin or evil

literalist

interpreting the text of the Bible in a literal sense

the fall

the events of genesis chapter 3, where Adam and Eve face God's punishment for disobeying his divine command not to eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil

evolutionary theory

scientific theory, originally proposed in the 19th century that posited that life developed from simpler to more complex life forms via a process of natural selection and genetic mutation

free will

the theological and philosophical concept that states that humans have the ability to choose freely between good and evil

geological

the science relating to how the earth was formed

Irenaeus of Lyons

second-third-century Early Christian Bishop who is chiefly remembered for his writings against the heresy of Gnosticism- a major threat to Christian orthodoxy in the first few centuries of the Church's history. He also influentially stated that human beings had been made imperfect and needed to grow towards perfection, which he believed could only be done by making the proper response to God through Christ.

Epistemic distance

A distance measured in terms of knowledge rather than space or time

soul-making

A process where the soul is developing towards spiritual perfection by gaining the wisdom to always make the correct moral choices when faced with the ambiguities of life as a human being

corporeal

of a material nature, physical

dreams

in terms of visions, the unconscious state where knowledge or understanding is gained through a series of images or a dream-narrative that would not normally be available to the individual in the conscious state

intellectual

in terms of visions, that which brings the recipient knowledge and understanding

sensory

a vision where external objects/sounds or figures convey knowledge and understanding to the recipient

visions

the ability to 'see' something beyond normal experiences- eg the vision of an angel; such visions usually convey insight or information about a specific religious tradition

conversion

in the religious context the change of state from one form of life to another

ecstatic

an overwhelming feeling of bliss or peace

ineffable

that being of which a person cannot speaks as no words can describe the experience

mysticism

a religious experience where union with God or the absolute reality is sought or experienced

noetic

Knowledge gained through mystical experience that would otherwise not be available to the recipient through ordinary means

transcendent

that which lies beyond the everyday realm of the physical senses

unitive

the feeling of complete oneness with the divine

prayer

communication with the divine

passive

in the context of mystical experience, where the ME is 'done to' the recipient- it is not instigated by the individual or group but is instead due to some kind of external force or influence

transient

an experience that is short lived yet has far reaching/long lasting qualities

anthropology

the study of human beings, their culture and social development

naturalism

that which arises from real life or the world of nature

alpha-male

the dominant male in a community or group

amrit

the name of the holy water that is drunk in the baptism ceremony into the Khalsa in Sihkism- the word amrit literally means immortality

analogy

where something (that is known) is compared with something else (usually something unknown), in order to explain or clarify it

anti-realism

the philosophical concept that the truth of something is determined by it fitting in with the views/beliefs of those who espouse it

anti-realist

The philosophical concept that the truth of something is determined by it fitting in with the views/beliefs of the group who espouse it.

archetype

according to Jung, a primitive concept inherited from the earliest human ancestors found in the collective unconscious

archetypes

literally meaning 'original pattern' - they refer to symbolic forms which all people share in their collective unconscious. The archetypes give rise to images in the conscious mind and account for the recurring themes. These mould and influence human behaviour

atonement

making up for wrongdoing; the reconciliation of human beings with God through life, suffering and the sacrificial death of Christ

attribution

relating to the attribute or characteristic possessed by an object

belief-in

A belief that conveys an attitude of trust or commitment

belief-that

A belief that claims to be an objective fact

blik

a term used by R M Hare to describe the point of view that someone may hold that will influence the way they live their life

charismatic worship

exuberant and expressive forms of worship often involving ecstatic religious experiences such as speaking in tongues and healing miracles

cognitive

language that is empirically verifiable and makes assertions about objective reality

coherence theory of truth

belief that something is true when it fits in (coheres) with the views of those within the community

collective neurosis

A neurotic illness that afflicts all people

collective unconscious

elements of unconscious that are shared with all people

contingency miracle

a remarkable and beneficial coincidence which is interpreted in a religious fashion

correspondence theory of truth

Belief that something is true because it relates to an objective external reality.

deconstruct

to analyse a text by taking it apart in order to work out what it means

disclosure

where something is made known where previously it was hidden or unknown

ego

the part of the psyche that is residing largely in the conscious and is reality oriented. it mediates between the desires of the id and the superego

empirical

observation, experience or experiment based on the five physical senses

empirical evidence

the knowledge received by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation

empirical knowledge

knowledge which is acquired (or acquirable) through the five senses. It is knowledge that provides information about the external, physical world

empiricist

a person who believes that all knowledge is based on sense experience

enlightenment

in Buddhism, experience of awakening to insight into the true nature of things

equivocally

where there is more than one meaning, usually in relation to a word or phrase

eschatological verification

John Hick's assertion that certain religious statements may be verifiable at a future point (ie after death). In this sense they are 'verifiable in principle' and should therefore be regarded as meaningful

eucharist

the christian ceremony based on JC's last supper with his disciples, also known as mass or holy communion

ex nihilo

literally 'out of nothing' - a latin term often associated with creation myths

falsification

proving something false by using evidence that counts against it

Id

the part of the psyche that resides in the unconscious and relates to basic human needs and desires