PHILO_REVIEWER

Philosophy

The love of wisdom and the search for a synoptic vision of life through contemplation and philosophical reflection.

Eastern Philosophy

Philosophy that is often associated with gods and spirituality.

Western Philosophy

Philosophy that emphasizes reason, individualism, and the search for truth through systematic argumentation.

Sophists

Teachers in ancient Greece who trained students to win arguments and focused on the "how" of knowledge.

Philosophos

Believers in teaching and learning as a means to discover the truth and strive for wisdom, focusing on both the "how" and "why" of knowledge.

Pythagoras

A philosopher who believed in the importance of silence and meaningful words.

Heraclitus

A philosopher who believed in the constant change and impermanence of everything.

Democritus

A philosopher who proposed the concept of atoms and emphasized contentment and gratitude.

Diogenes of Sinope

A philosopher who lived like a beggar and emphasized the search for meaning and pleasure in life.

Socrates

A philosopher known for his Socratic method and the belief that true wisdom comes from acknowledging one's ignorance.

Plato

A philosopher who developed the theory of forms and established the Academy, focusing on the pursuit of truth.

Aristotle

A philosopher and student of Plato who emphasized inductive reasoning and believed that happiness is the purpose of life.

Stoicism

A school of thought that teaches self-control, clear thinking, and acceptance of one's circumstances as the path to happiness.

Scholasticism

Philosophical systems developed by medieval Christian thinkers, seeking to reconcile faith and reason.

Humanism

A belief system that emphasizes the inherent goodness and potential for improvement in human beings.

Existentialism

A philosophy that emphasizes individual responsibility in creating meaning and purpose in life.

Empiricism

The belief that all knowledge comes from experience and observation, and that the senses are the best way to gain knowledge.

Empiricism

Knowledge is gained through experiences and observation using our senses.

Rationalism

Knowledge is based primarily on logic and intuition, or innate ideas that we can understand through contemplation, not observation.

Pragmatism

Thinking of or dealing with problems in a practical way, rather than using theory or abstract principles. The truth is determined by practical application or gain.

Positivism

The view that truth comes entirely from science or math. Words have an objective meaning or "reference" that are real things.

Phenomenology

The philosophy of experience. The ultimate source of all meaning and value is the lived experience of human beings. The study of "phenomena":appearances of things.

Absurdism

The conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any. Life is seen as negative and without inherent meaning.

Nihilism

Refusal to believe that life has a meaning. Life is seen as without meaning and has no positive outlook.

Eastern Philosophy

Philosophy closely tied with religious belief, emphasizing a balanced life and one's role in society.

Religion

A cultural system of commonly shared beliefs and rituals that provides a sense of ultimate meaning and purpose. Associated with the concept of the supernatural or god.

Belief System

A set of beliefs or principles that help us interpret our everyday reality and make sense of the world. It may or may not involve the concept of god.

Christianity

Theistic, Monotheistic religion. Largest among all religions. Believes in Jesus as the messiah. Has subdivisions such as Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant.

Islam

Theistic, Monotheistic religion. Second largest religion in the world. Believes in Allah as the one and incomparable God. Muhammad is the last messenger of God. Jesus is considered a prophet, not the most important prophet.

Quran

The verbatim word of God and the teachings and normative example of Muhammad; the unaltered and final revelation of God.

Star and Crescent

A symbol of Islam, originally used by the people of Central Asia and Siberia as a symbol of their sky gods, adopted as a symbol of Islam during the Ottoman Empire.

Allah

The Arabic word for God, used in Islam.

Mosque

A place of worship in Islam.

Imam

The worship leader in a mosque.

Shahada

The testament of faith in Islam, surrendering to one true God, Allah.

Salat

Daily prayers in Islam, performed five times a day.

Zakat

Alms-giving or charity giving in Islam.

Sawm

Fasting during the month of Ramadan in Islam.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Islam.

Ka'bah

A small stone building in the court of the Great Mosque at Mecca, considered a sacred site in Islam.

Judaism

A theistic and monotheistic religion, considered the mother religion of Christianity and Islam, follows the Old Testament.

Tanakh

The sacred text of Judaism.

Dharma

A concept in Hinduism that refers to ethics and duties, guiding a person on how to behave.

Star of David

A symbol in Judaism representing the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Menorah

A nine-branched candelabrum used in the celebration of Hanukkah in Judaism.

Synagogue

A place of worship in Judaism.

Rabbi

The worship leader in a synagogue.

Hinduism

A theistic and polytheistic religion, considered the oldest religion in the world.

Om or Aum

The most sacred syllable in Hinduism.

Swastika

A symbol in Hinduism representing auspiciousness and good fortune.

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth in Hinduism.

Buddhism

A nontheistic religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha.

Four Noble Truths

The fundamental teachings of Buddhism.

Noble Eightfold Path

The path leading to the cessation of suffering in Buddhism.

Wheel of Dharma

A symbol in Buddhism representing the teachings of Buddha.

Sikhism

A theistic religion originating in the Punjab region of India.

Khanda

A symbol in Sikhism representing God as a whole.

Guru

A religious leader in Sikhism.

Guru Granth Sahib

The sacred scripture of Sikhism.

Taoism

A nontheistic religion emphasizing harmony with the Tao, the natural way of the universe.

Lao Tzu

Prominent philosopher in Taoism

Tao Te Ching

Main book in Taoism

Taoism (or Daoism)

Belief in living in balance with the Tao (Universe)

Wu wei

Effortless action in Taoism

Three Treasures

Compassion, Frugality, Humility in Taoism

Yin and Yang

Symbol of duality and dichotomy in Taoism

Shintoism

Ethnic religion of Japan, focuses on ritual practices

Harae

Ritual for purity in Shintoism

Kami

Shinto gods in Shintoism

Amaterasu

Most important god in Shintoism

Torii Gate

Marks entrance to a sacred Shinto shrine

Jainism

Ancient Indian religion focused on ethics and spiritual life

Tirthankaras

Religious leaders in Jainism

Ahimsa

Non-violence in Jainism

Satya

Truthfulness in Jainism

Asteya

Non-stealing in Jainism

Brahmacharya

Celibacy in Jainism

Aparigraha

Non-possessiveness in Jainism

Three Jewels of Jainism

Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct

Confucianism

Philosophy based on teachings of Confucius

Li

Duty and correct behavior in Confucianism

Filial Piety

Honoring parents and ancestors in Confucianism

Social Order through Hierarchy

Importance of hierarchy in Confucianism

The Golden Rule

"Do not do unto others what you would not want others do unto you" in Confucianism

Partial POV and Holistic Perspective

Understanding different perspectives and the interdependence of factors

Holism

School of thought that emphasizes the interdependence of factors in a system

Holistic Perspective

Examining the whole or totality of a system by considering its component parts

Point of View

In philosophy, it is a way or method of perceiving reality or a phenomenon.

Holistic Perspective

Tries to broaden the understanding of reality by considering other possible causal agents or factors.

Partial Point of View

Based on a single or partial component of a system, looks at only a limited number of aspects.

Sense of Wonder

The curiosity that drives humans to ask questions and seek understanding.

Doubt

The need to verify if the information presented to us is true, leading to critical thinking and analysis.

Experience

Philosophizing is driven by the experiences that challenge our ideas and frameworks.

Love for Wisdom

To have an insatiable desire for truth and to constantly question, probe, and discuss.

Frameworks

Our principles, beliefs, and values that shape our way of thinking about the world.

Internal Questions

Questions answered based on personal frameworks and values.

External Questions

Questions that challenge the frameworks upon which people base their beliefs and views.

Area of Knowledge

Different subject matters tackled in philosophy, such as philosophy of science, religion, and education.

Ethics

The study of the morality of human action.

Epistemology

The study of the nature of knowledge and knowing.