Philosophy and Tendencies Core Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions of philosophy, historical philosophers, and the psychological theories of tendencies from the lecture notes.

Philosophy

A logical way of thinking and a method of reflection that focuses on the systematic study of ideas and daily life concepts rather than concrete facts.

Induction

A scientific method used to move from particular facts to a general law through observation.

Deduction

A philosophical mental process used to move from a general concept to a particular conclusion.

Mother of All Sciences

The historical status of philosophy before sciences separated into distinct branches during the Scientific and Industrial Revolution.

Thales

An ancient philosopher who believed water is the primary stuff of nature and successfully predicted a solar eclipse.

Anaximenes

An ancient philosopher who proposed that air is the source of everything through the processes of compression and expansion.

Socrates

The primary source of Western logic and ethics who taught that the mind is more important than the body and true happiness comes from knowing oneself.

Tendency

Internal forces or active powers oriented toward specific goals, which are driven by underlying or unconscious forms.

Instinct

An innate and unlearned know-how that allows animals to fulfill their tendencies.

Sensualist Theory

Condillac’s theory stating that the mind is born like a blank statue and that tendency is a consequence (not a cause) of sensory experience and pleasure.

Behaviorist Theory

The theory proposed by Ribot that defines tendency as a primitive biological fact and describes it as a "movement in a budding state."

Pierre Janet

A philosopher who argued that all actions and conducts are controlled by tendencies and that one tendency can command various behaviors.

Pradines’ Criticism

The argument against Behaviorism stating that many human movements, such as reflexive blinking, have nothing to do with tendencies.

Guillaume’s Criticism

The argument that movements repeated daily due to habit do not equal true inner tendencies.

Affectivity

The element of human tendencies related to feelings and sensory experiences like pleasure or pain.

Activity

The element of human tendencies related to biological movement and physical action.