Methods of Philosophizing, Logic, Fallacies, and the Embodied Spirit

Vocabulary flashcards covering methods of philosophizing, logic and critical thinking, deductive and inductive arguments, informal logical fallacies, and the human person as an embodied spirit.

Philosophizing

Thinking deeply and logically about life's big questions, which involves asking deep questions, considering different viewpoints, and being open to new ideas.

Phenomenology

A major method of philosophizing centered on inner experience and how things appear to an individual, emphasizing that truth is based on lived consciousness.

Edmund Husserl

The proponent of phenomenology who focused on consciousness and the idea that truth is defined by how a person experiences reality.

Existentialism

A major method of philosophizing centered on freedom, human decisions, and how an individual chooses to live and define meaning.

Jean-Paul Sartre

The proponent of existentialism who argued that truth is based on personal choices and action.

Postmodernism

A major method of philosophizing focused on multiple viewpoints and cultural backgrounds, holding that there is no single truth.

Analytic Tradition

A major method of philosophizing centered on language, asserting that words matter and that truth depends on how clearly thoughts are communicated.

Logic

A branch of philosophy that focuses on analyzing and constructing valid arguments through structured reasoning.

Critical Thinking

The practice of distinguishing facts from opinions, evaluating sources, and avoiding misinformation.

Truth

A fact-based, verifiable reality that is confirmed with evidence and exists independent of bias.

Opinion

A personal, interpretative, and biased view grounded in feelings, preferences, or individual interpretation.

Arguments

Structured reasoning composed of premises, inferences, and a conclusion.

Premises

Foundational statements within an argument that provide support for the conclusion.

Inferences

Logical steps that connect premises to a conclusion.

Conclusion

An end-point claim in an argument that is supported by premises.

Logical Reasoning

A structured way of thinking that uses premises, inferences, and conclusions to arrive at truth.

Deductive Reasoning

A type of reasoning that moves from general principles to specific conclusions, aiming to guarantee the conclusion if the premises are true.

Valid Deductive Argument

A deductive argument form where the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

Invalid Deductive Argument

A deductive argument form where the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises, even if the premises are true.

Sound Deductive Argument

A deductive argument that is valid in form and possesses factually true premises.

Unsound Deductive Argument

A deductive argument that possesses a valid form but contains at least one false premise.

Inductive Reasoning

A type of reasoning that moves from specific observations to general conclusions, aiming to make conclusions probable rather than guaranteed.

Strong Inductive Argument

An inductive argument where the premises make the conclusion highly probable.

Weak Inductive Argument

An inductive argument where the premises insufficiently support the conclusion.

Cogent Inductive Argument

An inductive argument that is strong and built upon true premises.

Uncogent Inductive Argument

An inductive argument that is strong in form but built upon at least one false premise.

Fallacy

A faulty reasoning pattern that resembles a valid argument but fails to support its conclusion.

Ad Hominem

A fallacy that attacks the character or background of the person making an argument instead of addressing the argument itself.

Ad Baculum (Appeal to Force)

A fallacy that relies on threats or intimidation to force acceptance of a conclusion instead of using logic.

Ad Misericordiam (Appeal to Pity)

A fallacy that uses pity, sympathy, or emotion to persuade someone.

Ad Populum (Bandwagon)

A fallacy claiming that a statement is true simply because many people believe or practice it.

Ad Antiquitatem (Appeal to Tradition)

A fallacy that accepts an idea or practice as correct simply because it is traditional or has always been done.

Ad Verecundiam (Appeal to Authority)

A fallacy that misuses an authoritative figure or celebrity to justify a claim outside their expertise.

Argumentum ad Ignorantiam (Appeal to Ignorance)

A fallacy assuming a proposition is true simply because it has not yet been proven false.

Dicto Simpliciter

A fallacy that applies an unqualified general rule to a specific case without recognizing exceptions.

Fallacy of Division

A fallacy assuming that what applies to a whole group or entity must automatically apply to every individual part or member.

Equivocation

A fallacy that uses a single word or phrase with multiple meanings interchangeably within the same argument.

Human Being

The biological classification of humans under the class Mammalia.

Person

An individual endowed with self-awareness, rationality, and the capacity to interact with others.

Personhood

The unique, sacred, and ethical status attributed to being human.

Human Nature

The collective traits, characteristics, and qualities that distinguish humans from animals.

Cognitive Self

The dimension of the human person encompassing inner, unseen aspects such as beliefs, desires, dreams, and intentions.

Physical Self

The dimension of the human person encompassing visible physical traits such as body type, strength, and appearance.

Spirit

The intangible element in a human person that enables thought, inner awareness, and connection.

Embodied Spirit

The driving force behind human actions, thoughts, and speech, described in Christian philosophy as an inseparable union of body and soul.

Self-awareness

A quality of the embodied spirit defined by Abella (2016) as consciousness looking inward to discover the self.

Externality

A quality of the embodied spirit defined by Abella (2016) as the ability to reach out and connect with others, animals, or objects.

Self-determination

A quality of the embodied spirit that involves making intentional choices, regulating actions, and being goal-oriented.

Dignity

An innate right to be valued and respected that motivates the pursuit of goodness.

Transcendence

The human capacity to surpass natural limitations, change, and redefine oneself.