Dualism
the position that mind and body are in some categorical way separate from each other, and that mental phenomena are, in some respects, non-physical in nature.
Mind-Body Problem
what is the relationship between the mind and the body -- between the mental realm (the realm of thoughts, beliefs, pains, sensations, emotions) and the physical realm (matter, atoms, neurons).
Essentialism
a belief that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, and that the task of science and philosophy is their discovery and expression; the doctrine that essence is prior to existence.
Essence
he property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity.
Existentialism
a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.
Socratic Method
is a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presumptions.
Atomists
a natural philosophy that developed in several ancient traditions. The atomists theorized that nature consists of two fundamental principles: atom and void.
Metaphysics
the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space.
Ontology
the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
Epistemology
the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.
Relativism
the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.
Aesthetics
the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and appreciation of art, beauty and good taste
Ethics
involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior
Valid Argumet
when the conclusion is entailed by, or logically follows from, the premises.
Sound Argument
if it is valid and all its premises are true.
Golden Mean
Virtue is the moderate action and feeling that lies between two undesirable extremes
Eudaimonia
moral philosophy that defines right action as that which leads to the "well-being" of the individual, thus holding "well-being" as having essential value.
Karma
the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences
Forms (For Plato)
non-physical (but substantial) forms (or ideas) represent the most accurate realit
Tao
the way, the path, to ultimate reality
founded in china
Ch'i
the energy of the cosmos
Priori Beliefs
knowledge that is independent of all particular experiences
Posteriori Beliefs
knowledge derives from experience