ToK chapter 3

dialectics

a method of argument that involves a disagreement between opposing sides

thesis

a proposition

antithesis

the negation of a thesis

synthesis

in the context of dialectics, a connected whole, a resolution, or a new idea which resolves the conflict between thesis and antithesis

practical or material (knowledge) tool

the device used to complement or enhance cognition, such as a microscope or an iPad

cognitive (knowledge) tool

the mental process of acquiring knowledge, for example via the senses, memory, imagination, experience and rational thought

empiricist

a supporter of empiricism - a school of thought which claims that all knowledge must ultimately be based on sense perception

rationalist

a supporter of rationalism, a school of thought which relies on deduction rather than sensory perception to determine truth

rationality

the ability to reason and think clearly, sensible or logically

logic

the principles of - or a system of - rules that govern reason, and a branch of philosophy

empathy

the ability to imagine and understand the feelings and viewpoint of another person

fantasy

an escapist form of imagination that is only distantly connected with the real world

realistic imagination

imagination which is informed and guided by the relevant facts

creativity

the ability to generate ideas or produce works that are original, surprising and valuable

personal memory

the internal recollection of the various events that make up our lives

factual memory

our memory of meanings, facts and information

practical memory

the remembered ability to know how to do something, such as playing the piano

premise

assumption on which an argument is based, or from which a conclusion is drawn

deductive reasoning

reasoning from the general to the particular

syllogism

a deductive argument with two premises and a conclusion

truth

a philosophical concept to do with what is the case; a premise can be true or false

validity

the property of an argument in which the conclusion follows logically from the premises

valid

an argument that follows logically from the premises

invalid

an argument that does not follow logically from the premises

sound

the property of a syllogism that contains two true premises and a valid argument

inductive reasoning

reasoning from the particular to the general

certain knowledge

a state of affairs when we can be definite that something is the case

abductive reasoning

reasoning that infers the best explanation based on the evidence available

infer

to come to a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

ethics

the branch of knowledge to do with right and wrong, and the study of the moral principles that govern our beliefs and behaviours

rule of thumb

an approximation based on experience

virtue ethics

the theory that an ethical action is one performed by a virtuous person

deontological ethics

the belief that ethics is fundamentally a matter of doing your duty and fulfilling your obligations

moral absolutism

the belief that there is at least one universal moral principle, which should always be followed irrespective of the context or their consequences

rule worship

blindly following moral rules irrespective of whether or not they are appropriate

teological

to do with the outcome or consequence. Teleological theories of ethics based on the idea that we know if an action is ethical based on the results or end achieved

utilitarianism

the belief that ethics can ultimately be reduced to the principle that we should maximise well-being

happiness

in this context, well-being, unselfishness, health, security, independence, liberty, and nobleness (not a feeling of excitement or satisfaction)

hedonic calculus

a way of determining the amount of pleasure or pain caused by an action by measuring its intensity, duration, certainty, closeness, fruitfulness, purity, and extent

primary emotions

universal emotions which are usually said to comprise happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise

secondary emotions

complex emotions which can be thought of as mixtures of primary emotions

wisdom of repugnance

the claim that we can validly appeal our feelings of disgust to justify our moral beliefs

wise nature fallacy

the false assumption that because something is natural it is therefore good