General Science: Branches and Concepts of Philosophy

This flashcard set covers the main branches of philosophy, their sub-disciplines, key philosophical objects of thought, and the distinction between assumed versus questioned principles.

Sophia

A Greek term meaning 'wisdom,' which is the root of the word philosophy.

Pythagoras

The individual traditionally attributed with the origin of philosophy, rather than Plato.

Metaphysics

The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of reality, existence, and the fundamental structure of the universe.

Epistemology

The study of the nature, scope, and limitations of knowledge, including how it is acquired and what justifies belief.

Ethics

Also known as moral philosophy; the study of questions regarding right and wrong, virtue and vice.

Normative Ethics

A sub-branch of ethics that considers the principles governing ethical behavior.

Applied Ethics

A sub-branch of ethics that examines specific moral issues.

Meta-ethics

A sub-branch of ethics that explores the nature of meaning and moral judgements.

Aesthetics

The branch of philosophy exploring the nature of beauty and art.

Logic

The study of reasoning and argumentation, involving the analysis of valid arguments and principles of correct thought.

Formal Logic

A type of logic that utilizes symbolic representations.

Informal Logic

A type of logic that examines everyday reasoning.

Being & Existence

The object of philosophical thinking that questions what it means to exist and the fundamental components of reality.

Feelings

The conscious interpretation of emotions that persist long after the initial emotional reaction has passed.

Critical Examination

A philosophical approach focusing on conceptual clarity and logical coherence to distinguish inquiry from empirical sciences.

Conceptual Analyses

The process of identifying concepts, definitions, and ideas through inquiry to clarify the understanding of phenomena.

Normative Inquiry

A type of inquiry that examines how things ought to be to guide human action and thought.

Assumed Principle

A belief accepted as true without critical examination, often based on tradition, upbringing, or authority.

Questioning Principle

The act of examining a belief by asking questions, exploring different perspectives, and seeking evidence before accepting it as true.

Partial Truths

Information that is true within a limited context or isolation but is incomplete and potentially misleading.

Holistic Truth

A way of understanding the world where information is true from every angle and provides the whole story.