Introduction to Philosophy: Western and Eastern Beginnings, Branches, and Relevance

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on philosophy, including Western and Eastern beginnings, major branches, and their relevance.

Philosophy

From Greek philo (love) and sophia (wisdom); 'love of wisdom' and the study of big questions about life, knowledge, truth, values, and existence.

Philo

Greek root meaning 'love'.

Sophia

Greek for 'wisdom'.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge and how we know what we know; includes methods of acquiring and validating knowledge.

Empiricism

Knowledge derived from sensory experience.

Rationalism

Knowledge derived from reasoning and intellectual thinking.

Metaphysics

Study of reality and existence; questions about what is real and the nature of being.

Idealism

Reality exists in the mind or is mentally constructed.

Realism

Reality exists independently of the mind.

Ethics

The study of morality; what is right or wrong and how we should behave.

Divine Command

Moral rightness or wrongness determined by God's commands.

Consequentialism / Utilitarianism

Morality judged by outcomes; the best action yields the greatest overall happiness.

Deontology

Ethics based on duties or rules rather than consequences.

Relativism

Moral judgments depend on cultural or societal norms rather than universal standards.

Logic

Rules of correct reasoning; helps evaluate arguments; includes inductive and deductive reasoning.

Deductive Logic

From general statements to specific conclusions; if premises are true, the conclusion necessarily follows.

Inductive Logic

From specific observations to general conclusions; conclusions are probable, not guaranteed.

Aesthetics

Study of beauty and taste; how we experience and evaluate art.

Theory of Forms

Plato’s idea that perfect, abstract forms exist; the physical world is an imperfect copy.

Academy

Plato’s school; one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world.

Socrates

Father of Western Philosophy; known for the Socratic Method; did not write books; ideas known through students.

Socratic Method

Question-and-answer dialogue to stimulate critical thinking and reveal beliefs.

Plato

Student of Socrates; founded the Academy; proposed the Theory of Forms; wrote The Republic.

Aristotle

Student of Plato; founded the Lyceum; emphasized observation, logic, and science; foundational for many areas of knowledge.

Confucius

Founder of Confucianism; taught respect, filial piety, proper behavior; considered Father of Eastern Philosophy.

Filial Piety

Respect for parents and elders; a central Confucian value.

Junzi

Confucian ideal of the virtuous, morally cultivated person (gentleman).

Golden Rule / Confucianism

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; a core ethical principle in Confucian thought.

Lao Tzu

Founder of Taoism; taught living in harmony with the Tao and natural flow of life; author of the Tao Te Ching.

Taoism

Philosophy focusing on harmony with nature and the Tao (the Way).

Wu Wei

Daoist idea of non-action or effortless action in harmony with nature.

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Founder of Buddhism; taught how to end suffering through understanding, self-awareness, and compassion.

Buddhism

Religion/philosophical tradition founded by Buddha; emphasizes Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

(See above) Founder of Buddhism who taught the path to enlightenment.

Four Noble Truths

1) Dukkha (life involves suffering) 2) Samudaya (suffering arises from desire) 3) Nirodha (suffering can end) 4) Magga (path to end suffering).

Eightfold Path

Eight practices: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

Siddhartha Gautama

Alternative name for Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.