Logic and Philosophy Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic philosophy, logic, moral concepts, informal fallacies, and formal logical structures, as well as specialized philosophical terms related to Orthodox Trinitarian theology.

Metaphysics

The study of what is ultimately real, including questions about the existence of God, free will, the nature of the mind, and time.

Absolute Metaphysics

The idea that there is some ultimate, fundamental, and unchanging reality behind everything else.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge and the methods used to determine how we know things.

Metaethics

The study of what morality itself means and whether it is objective or subjective.

Permissible

An action that is morally allowed.

Impermissible

An action that is morally not allowed.

Obligatory

An action that one is morally required to perform.

Supererogatory

An action that is morally good but not required; going above and beyond duty.

Normative Claim

A statement about what is good, bad, right, or wrong, often expressing what ought to be.

Prescriptive Claim

A statement that tells someone what they should or should not do.

Descriptive Claim

A statement that describes what is actually happening without moral judgment.

Hypothetical Imperative

A rule that depends on a specific goal, following the pattern: If you want $X$, do $Y$.

Categorical Imperative

A moral rule that applies universally, regardless of personal desires or goals.

Maxim

A personal rule or principle that guides an individual's actions.

Deontology

An ethical theory focused on duties, rules, and obligations rather than the results of an action.

Ends-in-Ourselves

The Kantian principle that people have inherent value and should not be treated merely as tools to achieve a goal.

Utilitarianism

The theory that the morally best action is the one that produces the greatest overall happiness or well-being.

Necessary Condition

Something that must be present for something else to occur (e.g., oxygen is necessary for fire).

Sufficient Condition

Something that is enough to guarantee a specific result (e.g., being a bachelor is sufficient for being unmarried).

Logical Possibility

Something that does not contain a logical contradiction.

Physical Possibility

Something that is allowed by the laws of physics.

Premise

A statement offered as evidence or support for a conclusion.

Conclusion

The primary statement that an argument's premises are intended to support.

Valid Reasoning

A logical structure where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Sound Argument

An argument that is both logically valid and possesses premises that are actually true.

Modus Ponens

A valid argument form: 1. If $P$, then $Q$. 2. $P$. 3. Therefore, $Q$.

Modus Tollens

A valid argument form: 1. If $P$, then $Q$. 2. Not $Q$. 3. Therefore, not $P$.

Ad Hominem

An informal fallacy involving an attack on the person rather than addressing their argument.

Straw Man

A fallacy where someone misrepresents or weakens an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Red Herring

Introducing an irrelevant topic to distract from the actual issue being debated.

Non Sequitur

Literally 'it does not follow'; occurs when the conclusion does not logically follow from the preceding statements.

Occam’s Razor

The principle that one should prefer the explanation that makes the fewest unnecessary assumptions.

Reductio ad Absurdum

A reasoning method that shows an argument is false by demonstrating that its logical consequences lead to a contradiction or absurdity.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific observations to reach a conclusion that is probably (but not certainly) true.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning where the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises, aiming for absolute certainty.

Abductive Reasoning

Reasoning that seeks the best possible explanation for a set of evidence.

Essence (Ousia)

In Trinitarian theology, refers to 'what' God is; the shared divine nature.

Person (Hypostasis)

In Trinitarian theology, refers to 'who' God is; the three distinct identities of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Monarchy of the Father

The Orthodox doctrine identifying the Father as the eternal single source (archē) of the Godhead.

Eternal Generation

The eternal relationship where the Son is begotten of the Father, distinguished from temporal creation.

Aseity

The property of existing from oneself; in Orthodox theology, the Father alone is uncaused as a Person.

Communication of Idioms

The Christological principle where properties of both divine and human natures are predicated of the one Person of Jesus Christ.

Law of Non-Contradiction

The principle that something cannot be both true and false in the same sense, at the same time, and in the same respect.