GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

analogy: A comparison or similarity between two things

anarchist: Someone who believes there should be no government

coherentist: Someone who believes knowledge is justified when beliefs fit together

compatibilist: Someone who believes we can be free even if our actions are determined

debate: A discussion of an issue where people give arguments for opposing viewpoints

deductive argument: When the steps of an argument make the conclusion necessary

democracy: Government by the people

determinist: Someone who believes all our actions are caused by past events or laws of nature

empiricist: Someone who believes knowledge comes from experience through the five senses

epistemology: The study of knowledge

eternal: Something without beginning or end

ethics: The study of moral value

faith: Belief without evidence

fallacy: A mistake in reasoning

feminist: Someone who believes in equal rights for women

foundationalist: Someone who believes knowledge must be built from basic certainties

free will: Having the power to act for or against our desires

inductive reasoning:When the steps of an argument make the conclusion probable or likely

justifed/justification: Having the right to make a claim

libertarian: Someone who believes that human beings have free will

logic: The study of good reasoning

metaphysics: The study of reality

moral/morality: Concerned with right and wrong behavior

pacifist: Someone who is against war and violence

paradigm: A mental pattern or model

paradox: A statement that seems impossible at first but turns out to be true

reality: The way things are

skepticism/skeptical: Doubting the truth of what someone says

soul: The spiritual part of a person

stoicism: Living life without showing emotions

syllogism: A short argument showing steps leading to a conclusion

theologian: A person who studies God

theory: A set of linked ideas to explain something

thought experiment: An imaginary scenario designed to test a theory

universal: The same for everyone, everywhere

virtue theorist (epistemology): Someone who believes knowledge comes from being a person with a good attitude

virtue theorist (ethics): Someone who believes morality comes from being a person with good habits