Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the basic concepts of philosophy, kinds of knowledge, theories of truth, and cognitive biases based on the lecture notes.

Philosophy

Derived from the Greek words Philia and Sophia, it literally means the "Love of Wisdom."

Philia / Philos

The Greek word meaning "Love."

Sophia

The Greek word meaning "Wisdom."

Opinion (doxa)

The lowest kind of knowledge that refers to a common understanding or common sense but lacks proper justification.

Technical Knowledge (techne)

Knowledge of the means-end of objects, specifically how things are made and done or inherent skills used to produce something.

Scientific Knowledge (episteme)

Knowledge consisting of grounded or justified assertions that founds scientific domains ranging from physics to geology.

Fact

An objective statement that can be proven true or false using empirical evidence, logical verification, or scientific observation.

Invariance

A characteristic of a fact indicating it remains true regardless of who says it, believes it, or feels about it.

Verifiability

A characteristic of a fact indicating it can be tested, measured, or historically cross-referenced.

Opinion

A subjective statement that expresses an individual's beliefs, value judgments, personal tastes, or emotional states.

Variance

A characteristic of an opinion indicating it changes from person to person, culture to culture, or era to era.

Debatability

A characteristic of an opinion indicating it cannot be proven absolutely true or false by physical measurements alone.

Unfounded Opinion

A claim made without any supporting evidence or logic.

Well-Founded Claim (Justified Belief)

An opinion deeply supported by facts, logic, and expert consensus.

Correspondence Theory

A theory of truth stating a statement is true if it matches or corresponds with an actual physical reality.

Coherence Theory

A theory of truth stating a statement is true if it fits logically into an already established system of truths without contradicting them, such as $2 + 2 = 4$ in arithmetic.

Pragmatic Theory

A theory of truth stating a statement is true if it has practical utility and works effectively when applied to real life.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs while ignoring opposing facts.

Cultural Relativism (Excessive)

The belief that absolute truth does not exist and that something is automatically true just because a specific culture or group accepts it.

Ad Hominem (Fallacy)

A logical fallacy involving attacking the person making the argument rather than evaluating the objective facts of the argument itself.