Vocabulary and Definitions from Lecture Notes

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary terms, concepts, and emotional descriptors extracted from the lecture notes.

empirical

verifiable observations based on experience rather than logic/theory

volition

power of ones will

proclivity

tendency toward certain thing

credence

belief something is true

evidential credence

degree of belief in something proportional to amount of evidence about it

revered

deep respect and admiration

vicariously

in a way experienced in imagination through the actions of someone else

esoteric

understood or intended for only a select few with specialized knowledge

solipsism

self only thing known to exist or being ver self centred

severance

act of slicing/ ending a connection or relationship

vicissitudes

change in circumstances usually unpleasant

idiosyncrasy

behaviour thought to be strange

lucidity

quality of being clear, both in thought and expression, and is also used to describe a state of mental clarity

fleeting

lasting very short time

cadence

way in which you talk

banality

unoriginality

secularism

separating religion from government, education, etc, to conduct reality based on naturalistic, non religious considerations

maxima, minima

plural of max and min

anguish

severe pain and suffering and distress

reconcile

restore friendly relations and settle diputes

sluggard

lazy sluggish person

doleful

express sorrow and mourning

vexation

annoyed and frustrated

eccentric

deviate from established norms; strange and unconventional

pensive

in deep thought and reflection

ardently/fervently

actions done with passion and enthusiasm and intensity

prosaic

mundane and dull

seethe

intense anger

pedantic

excessive concern for minor details

insatiable

appetite or desire impossible to satisfy

crestfallen

sad and disappointed

capricious

sudden and unaccountable changes in behaviour

cordially

warm and intense feeling

cultivate

acquire or develop

prudence

cautiousness

pang

sudden sharp painful emotion

deferentially

show great respect without regard of status

gait

individuals unique pattern of motion

eudaimonia

happiness, flourishing, highest human good, a state of living well and doing well rather than just a fleeting emotion

pernicious

having a harmful effect

heretic

holding beliefs against what is generally accepted

apathy

lack of emption and enthusiasm toward daily life and goals

maleficent

causing harm and destruction through supernatural ways

allegory

story, picture, etc… that can be interpreted to reveal hidden meaning

indignation

anger provoked by injustices

gaiety

state of happiness

acquiesce

accept something without protest

sophism

false argument used deliberately to deceive

decrepit

broken down and wasted in disrepair

ding

gloomy dark dirty appearance

ardently

do something with passion, emotion and conviction

conviction

firm held belief

scarcely

barely

magnanimous

generous and forgiving

disdain/contempt

feeling to someone is not worthy

spurn

to reject in disdain

harke

a painful memory that you look back upon with unexpected fondness, even though you remember having dreaded it at the time

libellous

describes statements that false or damaging to someones reputation

coquetry

playful flirtatious behaviour used to attract attention and interest without any intent

sentiment

a settled opinion prompted by a feeling towards a subject

presentiment

intuitive feeling for the future, a foreboding one

harbour

keep a (negative) thought or feeling secretly

arbitrary

choice on random rather than of any reason, capricious

cynicism

pessimistic attitude by distrust of other's behaviour which is believed to be driven by selfishness and greed

nuance

subtle change in meaning or expression

enraptured

filled with joy to the point of being captivated by something beautiful

dissonance

inharmonious/ not in accord

solidarity

in unity, agreement from shared objectives leading to collective action

bashful

socially shy

benevolent

well meaning, kindly

unintelligibility

impossible or hard to understand

synchronicity

simultaneous occurrence of unrelated events that seem connected

elusive

difficult to find, comprehend or achieve

impervious

incapable of being affected

unrequited

feeling not returned

diligently

do something carefully and steadily

vigilantly

do something extremely carefully and with attentiveness

culminations

end point or climax

vanity

excessive pride in appearance, ability or achievements

distinctness

clearly different

obsolete

something no longer used or needed

idiosyncrasies

unique unusual habits which characterise an individual

crass

something vulgar which shows lack of consideration for others

preemptive

taking action to prevent something else from happening after

ineffable

too beautiful and great to express in word

cathartic

experience allowing for emotional relief by releasing repressed emotions

priori

knowledge and reasoning independent of experience, using logic rather than observation

dogmatic

assert belief and ignoring evidence which opposes it

contemptible

something deserving of intense disrespect

vivacious

someone very lively and animated

visceral

act on emotion rather than reason

trappings

outward signs

gaudy

overly flashy and somewhat tasteless

intelligibility

easily understood

verbosity

using more words that necessary to explain

exuberance

being joyfully enthusiastic and energetic

decadence

falling into inferior conditions and decline in standards