Philosophy and Hinduism: Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms from the lecture notes: philosophy and its branches, key philosophers and methods, logical fallacies, views of the human person, and Hinduism concepts.

Philosophy

The love of wisdom; the science that uses the natural light of reason.

LOVE

PHILO means

WISDOM

SOPHIA means

Love of wisdom

Literal meaning of the word philosophy.

Principle of Identity

Whatever is; and whatever is not is not; everything is what it is.

Principle of Non-Contradiction

Something cannot be and not be at the same time.

Principle of Excluded Middle

a thing is either is not or is not; everything must be either be or not be;

Principle of Sufficient Reason

Nothing exists without a sufficient reason.

Metaphysics

Study of reality and existence; questions of who we are and what our purpose is.

Ethics

Explores the nature of moral virtue and evaluates human actions.

Epistemology

Deals with the nature of knowledge and how we know.

Logic and Critical Thinking

Reasoning applied across interests; uses rational methods.

Aesthetic

The science of beauty in its manifestations.

Phenomenology

Origin of the term from Greek phainomenon meaning appearance

Appearance

the word “phainomenon” means

Edmund Husserl

Founder of phenomenology.

Sartre

French philosopher who emphasizes free will and authenticity.

Socrates

Greek philosopher concerned with authenticity of the self.

St. Augustine

Christian philosopher who believed the human soul is connected to God.

Postmodernism

The rational to non-rational elements of human nature

Existentialism

Philosophical movement emphasizing free will and authenticity.

Analytical Tradition

Approach like solving a puzzle with careful words and step by step using logic

Inductive reasoning

Begins with observations and forms general conclusions.

Deductive reasoning

Draws conclusions from a general judgement or definition.

Fallacies

Errors in argument.

Ad hominem

Attacks the person rather than the argument.

Appeal to ignorance

Claims something is true because it has not been proven false; or false because it has not been proven true.

Appeal to pity

Uses emotion or sympathy to win an argument rather than logic.

Equivocation

Using the same word with multiple meanings.

Division

What is true of the whole must be true for each part.

Composition

What is true of a part must be true of the whole.

Appeal to force

Coercing someone to accept a point of view.

False cause

assumes that just because one thing happened before another... caused the second

Unspirited body view

just his/her body and nothing more... there is no such thing as a spirit exist

Disembodied spirit view

dependent on the spirit

Embodied spirit view

both body and spirit are in unity.

Human limitations

Biologically limited; humans are not equipped with the best physical attributes.

Transcendence

The capacity to exceed human limits.

Hinduism

A religion with beliefs including karma, nirvana, eternal law, inner self, and outer appearance.

Metamorphosis

Life as a continuous cycle.

Karma

Consequences of actions performed in a previous existence.

Nirvana

Freedom from all forms of bondage and attachment.

Natural Law (eternal law)

Universal ethical law; must do good and avoid evil.

Loob

The inner self; emotional and spiritual aspect.

Labas

The external or outward appearance.

Modification

Modifies their home by installing solar parents and planting trees.