Yr 8 RP EOY

Metaphysics

The study of the structure and nature of reality.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge, what it is, and how we are able to obtain it.

Rationalism

The epistemology claiming knowledge comes primarily from human reason and intellect.

Empiricism

The epistemology claiming knowledge comes primarily from sense experience and observation.

Mysticism

The epistemology claiming knowledge comes from direct, personal mystical experiences.

Fideism

The epistemology claiming knowledge comes solely from faith in, and revelation from, God.

Testimony

The epistemology claiming knowledge is obtained through the spoken or written accounts of others.

Emotivism

An epistemology or perspective that links claims of truth or morality to emotional expressions.

Anicca

The Buddhist concept of impermanence, meaning everything changes.

Anatman

The Buddhist concept of "no-self" or the absence of a permanent soul.

Dukkha

The Buddhist concept of suffering, unsatisfactoriness, or imperfection in reality.

The Three Marks of Existence

The Buddhist teaching consisting of Anicca, Anatman, and Dukkha.

Enlightenment

The mystical experience of understanding the ultimate truth of reality in Buddhism.

Allegory of the Cave

Plato's story illustrating how human senses can be deceived and why reason reveals true reality.

Radical Scepticism

René Descartes' method of doubting absolutely everything until he found a truth that was impossible to doubt.

The Cogito

Descartes' foundational truth: "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum).

Tabula Rasa

John Locke's empiricist concept that the human mind is born as a blank slate.

Argument from Repeated Experience

David Hume's empiricist view that our knowledge is built entirely on regular patterns we observe over time.

Noetic

William James' criterion meaning a mystical experience provides a profound sense of knowledge or deep truth.

Ineffable

William James' criterion meaning a mystical experience is beyond words and cannot be easily explained.

Transient

William James' criterion meaning a mystical experience is temporary and lasts for a short time.

Passive

William James' criterion meaning a mystical experience happens to a person, rather than being controlled by them.

The Tao

The fundamental, flowing principle of reality and nature within Taoism.

Chi

The vital life force or energy within Taoist philosophy and practices.

Tawhid

The Sufi and Islamic understanding of the absolute oneness and unity of Allah.

Fitrah

The Sufi and Islamic concept of humanity's innate spiritual nature and natural disposition to look for God.

Taqwa

The Sufi and Islamic concept of piety, righteousness, or deep God-consciousness.

Pentecost

The Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus.

Metaphysics

The philosophical study of what is real and the nature of reality

Ethics

The philosophical study of what is right and wrong

Epistemology

The branch of philosophy that focuses on the study of knowledge

Religion

A system of belief and action concerning the ultimate reality

Mysticism

The study of mystical experiences that provide deep insight into the true nature of reality

Three Jewels

The Buddha the Dharma and the Sangha

Dharma

The teachings or laws of the Buddha regarding metaphysics and ethics

Sangha

The community of Buddhists

Brahman

The underlying spiritual ultimate reality behind the world of appearances in Hinduism

Atman

The soul or spiritual self in Hinduism that exists inside material bodies

Maya

The illusionary material reality that hides Brahman from our minds

Immaterial Monism

The metaphysical view that everything truly real is made of one immaterial substance

Ashramas

The four distinct stages of life mapped out in Hinduism

Hedonism

A way of life devoted to maximising pleasure and avoiding pain

Asceticism

A way of life that denies bodily pleasures to purify the soul

Middle Way

A moderate path or via media between hedonism and asceticism

Three Poisons

Ignorance greed and hatred which cause all suffering in life

Samsara

The endless cycle of life death and personal reincarnation

Nirvana

The ultimate state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth

Anicca

The mark of existence stating that everything in the universe is impermanent

Anatman

The mark of existence stating that humans have no permanent soul or self

Dukkha

Suffering or dissatisfaction caused by the impermanence of reality

Skandhas

Five things that make a person. They are: body, sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness.

Steps to the Eightfold Path (VISAJEMM)

Right: view, intent, speech, action, job, effort, mindfulness, meditation

Ethics

The study of what is right and what is wrong in modes of existence

Maya

The Hindu concept that our five senses deceive us and reality is an illusion

Brahman

The immaterial true reality that stands behind the veil of Maya in Hinduism

Analogy

A comparison of two different things that are alike in some way

Episteme

Plato's term for true justified knowledge

Dogmatists

People who strongly construct their lives around opinions without investigating the underlying arguments

Sceptics

Thinkers who claim there is no certain truth and that we must suspend judgement

Cogito ergo sum

Descartes' foundational certainty meaning ‘I think therefore I am’

Tabula rasa

Aristotle's concept that the human mind is born as a blank slate

Sophia

The Greek term for wisdom attained by understanding underlying causes and principles

Delphic Oracle

An ancient Greek prophet who provided wisdom and answers to ultimate questions in riddles

Ineffability

A mystical state that defies expression and cannot be reported in words

Noetic

Provides knowledge or insight about the ultimate reality

Transiency

A quality meaning mystical experiences cannot be sustained for long

Passivity

A state where the mystical experience cannot be controlled by the person experiencing the mystical state.

The Force

An omnipresent energy field created by all living things in Star Wars

Tai Chi

A martial art designed to tap into the energy flow of Chi

Feng Shui

Architectural design that attempts to tap into Chi and Tao

Yin and Yang

Opposite forces balanced in art to align with the Tao

Sufis

A group that practices mysticism within the religion of Islam

Asceticism

Denying the body and senses to purify the soul

Cloud of Unknowing

The loss of sensory knowledge when advancing closer to God

Stage 1 of Christian Mysticism

The mind and senses are ‘unclean’ and Moses thinks that God is just a powerful man but more.

Stage 2 of Christian Mysticism

His senses and mind are being purified and Moses relies on Mysticism as the Cloud of Unknowing blocks his senses.

Stage 3 of Christian Mysticism

His mind and senses are fully purified and Moses gains Sophia.

Church (Ecclesia)

The whole body or assembly of Christian believers or a building for public worship

Pentecost

The event marking the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian Church. Pentecost means 50 days in Greek.

Hagio Pneuma

A Greek phrase meaning divine or sacred breath or spirit usually translated as Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit

The third person of the Holy Trinity symbolised by a flame ray of light or dove

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Seven spiritual attributes directing the mind and will toward God to provide noetic insight

Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Nine virtues that provide inner peace tranquility and spiritual rest overall

Fruits of the Flesh

Vices common in the world such as immorality strife jealousy anger and divisions

Hamartia

A Greek term meaning sin or falling short of one true nature and purpose

Apostles

A Greek term meaning messenger used for early leaders of the Church like Peter and Paul

Ichthus

The Greek word for fish used as a secret symbol by early persecuted Christians

Edict of Milan

A decree issued by Constantine in 313 AD granting full religious toleration to Christians

Hagia Sophia

A famous church built by Emperor Constantine meaning Church of Holy Wisdom

Nicaean Creed

An early statement of Christian belief formulated at the council authorized by Constantine

Labarum (Chi Ro)

A Christian battle standard representing the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ

Theodosius the Great

The Roman Emperor who made Christianity the official state religion of the empire

Emperor Justinian

The ruler who in 529 AD banned ancient pagan religions and classical philosophy schools

Denomination

A religious subgroup within a larger faith that literally means below name

Great Schism of 1054

The major split separating the Western Latin Church from the Eastern Greek Church

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement started by Martin Luther in 1517 protesting against Catholic corruption

Gospel

The teachings of Jesus Christ and the story of his life meaning Good News

Epistle

A letter written by an apostle or early Christian writer included as a book of the Bible

Old Testament

The first part of the Christian Bible corresponding to the Hebrew Bible

New Testament

The second section of the Christian Bible dealing with the life and teachings of Jesus