Philosophy and Student Handbook Reviewer Flashcards

Vocabulary study flashcards covering key terms and definitions from philosophical approaches, Greek and Christian philosophers, Oriental philosophy, Bible history, and institutional policies.

Cosmocentric Approach

A philosophical approach focusing on man's connection with the universe.

Theocentric Approach

A philosophical approach focusing on man's relationship with God.

Anthropocentric Approach

A philosophical approach focusing on man's relationship to other men and morality.

Socratic Method

A method of learning and teaching by asking questions, attributed to Socrates.

Tripartite Soul

Plato's model of the soul divided into Rational (reason/wisdom), Spiritual (spirit/courage), and Appetite (self-control/moderation).

Manichaeism

A heresy followed by St. Augustine prior to his conversion, which taught that the body is evil and the soul is good.

Donatism

A heresy teaching that grace comes directly from God rather than through a priest.

Pelagianism

A heresy listed in the course notes as stating that a person cannot be saved even if he did much good.

Proslogion

A famous work by St. Anselm of Canterbury addressing the existence of God.

Ontological Argument

St. Anselm's argument defining God as 'that than which nothing greater can be thought'.

Summa Theologiae

The major theological work written by St. Thomas Aquinas.

Eternal / Divine Law

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, God's law revealed in Scripture.

Natural Law

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the law that uses human reason to know right and wrong.

Human Law

Man-made law derived from Natural Law, which is originally derived from Eternal Law.

Wu Wei

A Taoist concept meaning calmness, natural flow, and acting without unnecessary force.

De

A Taoist concept referring to virtue or inner character, representing power derived from living in alignment with the Dao.

Tao Te Ching (Daodejing)

An 81-chapter text by Lao Tzu split into Dao Jing (chapters 1–37) and De Jing (chapters 38–81).

Butterfly Dream

Zhuangzi's famous story illustrating uncertainty, identity, and the boundaries between reality and appearance.

Ren

The Confucian concept of benevolence, humaneness, kindness, simplicity, and empathy.

Li

The Confucian concept referring to ritual, proper conduct, and manners.

Yi

The Confucian concept of righteousness and doing what is morally right.

Xiao

The Confucian concept of filial piety, defined as respect and loyalty to parents and family.

Junzi

The Confucian term for a morally exemplary person or gentleman, achieved through moral cultivation.

Tian

The Confucian term for Heaven.

Dukkha

The first Noble Truth in Buddhism, stating that life involves suffering, dissatisfaction, and impermanence.

Samudaya

The second Noble Truth in Buddhism, identifying craving or attachment as the cause of suffering.

Nirodha

The third Noble Truth in Buddhism, stating that suffering can end by overcoming craving.

Magga

The fourth Noble Truth in Buddhism, which refers to the Noble Eightfold Path as the way to end suffering.

Tolle lege

Latin phrase meaning 'Take up and read', heard by St. Augustine prior to reading St. Paul's Letter to the Romans in the garden.

Vulgate

The Latin translation of the Bible completed by St. Jerome (347–420 AD), which served as the Catholic standard for over 1,000 years.

Deuterocanonical Books

The 7 books (Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch) included in the Catholic Old Testament but omitted from Protestant Bibles.

Imprimatur

Official Catholic Church approval usually printed on the copyright page of a Catholic Bible.

imago Dei

The Latin phrase for 'image of God', referring to humans being created in God's image and likeness in Genesis 1.

Consecutive Absences Dropping Rule

The DLL rule stating that a student who incurs ten (10) consecutive absences from the first day of classes will be considered dropped.

Summa Cum Laude Requirements (DLL)

Academic honor criteria requiring a weighted average of 94 with no grade below 91.