theology
She studied theology at Yale Divinity School.
theology = the study of religion
Definition
Generally theology means:the study of religion; or a particular system or school of religious beliefs
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
abstract
as in:
abstract thought
We all agree that we want what's "best for the country", but that is an abstract concept and we cannot agree on which specific laws should be passed.
abstract = of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Word Statistics
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 500 |
doctrine
She argues that the action is protected under the separation-of-powers doctrine that is fundamental to the US Constitution.
doctrine = principle
Definition
Generally doctrine means:a belief (or system of beliefs or principles) accepted as authoritative by some group
Word Statistics
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 1000 |
metaphysics
Ontology is a central branch of metaphysics.†
metaphysics = the philosophical study of being and knowing
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
epistemology
Her faith and reason led her to study epistemology.†
epistemology = the study of how we know what we know
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
socialism
She believes that more socialism would be more fair.
socialism = an economic system based on government ownership and control of all companies — with the ideal of equal benefits to all people
Definition
Generally socialism means:an economic system based on government ownership or control of all important companies — with the ideal of equal benefits to all people
Word Statistics
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
phenomenon
It is a growing social phenomenon on high school campuses.
phenomenon = something that is of special interest
Definition
Generally phenomenon means:something that exists or happened — especially something of special interest — sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
Word Statistics
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 100 |
dialectic
Plato's Socratic dialogues popularized the concept of dialectics.†
dialectics = a search for truth through logical discussion — especially in reconciling two conflicting influences or ideas
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
cosmology
She believes in the Big Bang theory of cosmology.†
cosmology = the study of the origin of the universe
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
rationalism
Immanuel Kant attempted to integrate rationalism and empiricism.†
rationalism = the doctrine that knowledge is acquired primarily by reason rather than by experience
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
inseparable
They are inseparable companions.†
inseparable = not separable; i.e., not capable of being separated
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
empirical
Is her theory supported by empirical data?
empirical = based on experience or observation rather than theory
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 500 |
predicated
solving the problem is predicated on understanding it well†
predicated = to indicate that something is a necessary condition for another thing to be true or to happen
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
aesthetic
It was not aesthetically pleasing.
aesthetically = related to beauty or good taste
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 1000 |
temporal
as in:
temporal world
She focuses more on the spiritual while his main concern is with temporal existence.
temporal = concerned with the material (in contrast to the spiritual) world
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
inconsistent
Her play is inconsistent. Sometimes she's unbeatable and other times she beats herself.
inconsistent = not the same at different times
Definition
Generally inconsistent means:not the same in different parts or at different times
or:
not in agreement [with something else]
or:
not in agreement [with something else]
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 500 |
essence
She described the essence of chaos theory as "sensitive dependence on initial conditions."
essence = defining quality
Definition
Generally essence means:the defining or most important quality of something
or:
a extract that concentrates important qualities of something such as smell or taste
or:
a extract that concentrates important qualities of something such as smell or taste
Word Statistics
Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
convention
as in:
conventional behavior
It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.
conventional = normal
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 100 |
materialistic
She thinks Americans are too materialistic.†
materialistic = concerned with wealth and possessions at the expense of other interests
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 1000 |
hypothesis
2 meanings
as in:
a study to test her hypothesis
The study will test the hypothesis that a good marriage is more important than a higher income when measuring happiness.
hypothesis = a seemingly reasonable, but unproven, idea
Definition
Generally this sense of hypothesis means:a seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 100 |
as in:
assume as a working hypothesis
For the purpose of discussion, let's accept that the hypothesis that she is guilty is true. What would we have expected her to do after the incident?
hypothesis = something that may or may not be true, but is temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
humanism
She describes herself as a secular humanist.†
humanist = the doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
analogy
Her analogy is flawed.†
analogy = drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 500 |
utilitarianism
Utilitarianism gained popularity as public argument became more pluralistic and secular.†
utilitarianism = doctrine that the useful is the good; or the greatest happiness for the greatest number
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
utilitarian
She likes plain utilitarian kitchenware.
utilitarian = designed for usefulness rather than beauty or style
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
subjective
a subjective judgment†
subjective = influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact)
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
objective
as in:
an objective viewpoint
By any objective analysis, you would have to agree that...
objective = fact-based (not influenced by personal feelings or preferences)
Definition
Generally this sense of objective means:fact-based without the influence of personal feelings or preferences
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 500 |
insight
The book is full of insight on human nature.
insight = clear understanding of some aspects of a complex situation
Definition
Generally insight means:a clear understanding of some aspect of a complex situation; or a tendency to have such understandings
Word Statistics
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 2000 |
profound
as in:
profound sadness
Her apology was heartfelt—expressing profound sorrow and regret.
profound = intense (of great emotional depth)
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
infer
Which of the following facts can you infer from the first paragraph?
infer = figure out or guess by reasoning
Definition
Generally infer means:to figure out or guess by reasoning
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 10 |
Immanuel Kant
Kant's most important work is the Critique of Pure Reason.†
Kant = German philosopher generally considered the last major philosopher of the Enlightenment; emphasized the categorical imperative; criticized proofs of God, but believed God's existence must be assumed by rational, moral individuals (1724-1804)
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
rhetoric
She has convincing rhetoric, but makes bad decisions.
rhetoric = use of words to make a point
Definition
Generally rhetoric means:the use of (or study of using) words to make a point — typically implying skillful use
Word Statistics
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 1000 |
Nietzsche
Nietzsche famously said, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger."
Nietzsche = influential German philosopher remembered for his concept of the superman and for his rejection of Christian values; considered, along with Kierkegaard, to be a founder of existentialism (1844-1900)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
sage
as in:
sage advice
Can you offer some sage advice?
sage = wise
Definition
Generally this sense of sage means:profound wisdom; or one known for being wise
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
postmodernism
with regard to philosophy
My grandmother complains that the postmodern worldview too often leaves us without a shared sense of what is right and wrong.
postmodern = a worldview that denies the possibility of empirical or valid universal explanations and emphasizes the existence of different worldviews and concepts of reality
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
sophistry
Where facts failed her, she used sophistry.
sophistry = the use of seemingly believable, but invalid arguments that display ingenuity in reasoning
Definition
Generally sophistry means:seemingly believable, but invalid arguments that display ingenuity in reasoning
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
empiricism
John Locke is credited with explicitly formulating empiricism.†
empiricism = the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from experience
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
synthesis
His operas are the synthesis of music and drama in perfect harmony.†
synthesis = the combination of components into a complex whole
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
premise
as in:
the premise of the argument
Her argument rests on two premises.
premises = things assumed to be true and upon which other things are based
Definition
Generally this sense of premise means:something assumed to be true and upon which other things are based
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
dilemma
It is an ethical dilemma.
dilemma = a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives
Word Statistics
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT® | top 1000 |
Marx
Marx underestimated the affluence of the working class.†
Marx = founder of modern communism; wrote the Communist Manifesto with Engels in 1848; wrote Das Kapital in 1867 (1818-1883)
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
Marxism
As a child, he adopted a Castro-inspired Marxism.
Marxism = belief in the economic and political theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that hold that human actions and institutions are economically determined and that class struggle is needed to create historical change and that capitalism will ultimately be superseded by communism
Definition
Generally Marxism means:belief in the economic and political theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that hold that human actions and institutions are economically determined and that class struggle is needed to create historical change and that capitalism will ultimately be replaced by communism
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
a priori
unfounded a priori claims†
a priori = knowledge that is assumed to be true without proof (independent of experience)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
a posteriori
Most research dollars are spent on a posteriori treatment rather than on prevention.†
a posteriori = knowledge dependent upon experience
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
yin
In Chinese philosophy, everything has both yin and yang aspects.†
yin = in the Chinese dualistic cosmology of yin and yang: the dark, calm, feminine aspect
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
yang
In Taoist philosophy, yin and yang are always opposite, and interrelated in equal qualities.†
yang = in the Chinese dualistic cosmology of yin and yang: the bright, energetic, masculine aspect
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
utopia
We thought we could create a utopia, but we failed because we overestimated human nature.
utopia = an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
tautology
a linguistic tautology
It is an intentional tautology as when Gertrude Stein said "A rose is a rose is a rose."
tautology = useless repetition in different words (such as "unmarried bachelor")
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
pantheism
Hinduism is a pantheistic religion.†
pantheistic = the doctrine or belief that God is the universe and its phenomena (taken or conceived of as a whole) or the doctrine that regards the universe as a manifestation of God
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Hume
Hume attempted to develop a systematic naturalistic philosophy.†
Hume = Scottish philosopher whose skeptical philosophy restricted human knowledge to that which can be perceived by the senses (1711-1776)
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
Francis Bacon
Many consider Francis Bacon to be a catalyst of the scientific revolution.†
Francis Bacon = English statesman and philosopher who stressed the importance of experiment, observation, and inductive reasoning (1561-1626)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
extrinsic
a conflict between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation†
extrinsic = not forming an essential part of a thing; or arising or originating from the outside
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
intension
Your argument depends upon an intension of the concept well beyond what the real world will ever see.†
intension = any property or quality connoted by a word or symbol — often implied by its definition
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Thomas Hobbes
The tiger in the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip is named after Thomas Hobbes.†
Thomas Hobbes = English materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings; famous for his book, Leviathan (1588-1679)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Avicenna
Avicenna is probably the most influential philosopher of the Islamic tradition.†
Avicenna = most famous and influential of the philosopher-scientists of Islam; his interpretation of Aristotle influenced St. Thomas Aquinas; writings on medicine were important for almost 500 years (980-1037)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham had different conceptions of utilitarianism.†
John Stuart Mill = English philosopher and economist remembered for his interpretations of empiricism and utilitarianism (1806-1873)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
begging the question
She is begging the question rather than responding to my objection.†
begging the question = a logical fallacy or error in reasoning when the conclusion of an argument is assumed in one of the premises
or: a second meaning of the form begs the question is often used in a way many consider incorrect to say that something raises the question
or: a second meaning of the form begs the question is often used in a way many consider incorrect to say that something raises the question
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
ad hominem
She could see she was losing the debate, so she switched to an ad hominem argument.†
ad hominem argument = an argument that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
straw man
She's effective at tearing down straw men, but let me ask about a real case.†
straw men = an argument attributed to one's opponent that is weaker than their actual argument
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
non sequitur
The story may sound like a non sequitur, but bear with me and you'll see how it shines light on the issue.†
non sequitur = something said that does not logically follow from what preceded it
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
red herring
I think she raised the issue as a red herring.†
red herring = any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
circular reasoning
She's guilty of circular reasoning.†
circular reasoning = a logical fallacy or error in reasoning when the conclusion of an argument is assumed in one of the premises
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Desiderius Erasmus
As Erasmus said, "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."†
Erasmus = Dutch humanist and theologian who was the leading Renaissance scholar of northern Europe; although his criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church were instrumental to the Reformation, he opposed violence and condemned Martin Luther (1466-1536)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Friedrich Engels
Engels was influenced by the philosophy of Hegel.†
Engels = socialist who with his better known partner, Karl Marx, developed the theory of communism; co-authored the Communist Manifesto 1848 (1820-1895)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
reductio ad absurdum
Extend her premise to its logical outcome and it becomes a reductio ad absurdum since...†
reductio ad absurdum = a type of logical argument in which one assumes a claim for the sake of argument, derives an absurd outcome, and therefore concludes that the original assumption must have been wrong
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Aristotelian logic
Your simple Aristotelian logic is not going to provide a clear answer because they are in both classes to a degree.†
Aristotelian logic = the syllogistic logic of Aristotle as developed in the Middle Ages as traditional or term logic
(made up of statements in one of four forms: "All A's are B's", "No A's are B's", "Some A's are B's", or "Some A's are not B's" such that conclusions can be proven based on premises; though proof of premises is beyond the logical system)
(made up of statements in one of four forms: "All A's are B's", "No A's are B's", "Some A's are B's", or "Some A's are not B's" such that conclusions can be proven based on premises; though proof of premises is beyond the logical system)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas was posthumously excommunicated, but later pronounced a saint.†
Thomas Aquinas = exceedingly influential philosopher who greatly furthered Catholic reconciliation of faith and reason (1225-1274)
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
existential
as in:
existential philosophy
It was a moment of existential angst when nothing made sense any more.
existential = relating to knowing what is important
Definition
Generally this sense of existential means:relating to existentialism; a philosophical movement that assumes each person is free to determine what is essential in his/her existence rather than that being determined by a god and/or authority figures
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
Occam's razor
In answer to Occam's razor, Chatton argued: "If three things are not enough to verify an affirmative proposition about things, a fourth must be added, and so on."†
Occam's razor = Typically interpreted by layman as: "All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one."
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Nash equilibrium
The Nash equilibrium defines stability only in terms of unilateral deviations.†
Nash equilibrium = game theory: a situation where no player can unilaterally improve their situation
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
Pareto optimal
a Pareto-optimal way of distributing limited resources†
Pareto-optimal = a situation that cannot be improved for any person without making another person worse off
Word Statistics
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
deduce
She trusts only what she can measure or can deduce from measurement.
deduce = conclude by reasoning
Definition
Generally deduce means:conclude by reasoning — especially reasoning from the general to the particular
Word Statistics
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
Montesquieu
Leaders must overcome Montesquieu's observation that a "rational army would run away."†
Montesquieu = French political philosopher who provided the theoretical basis for the separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755)
Word Statistics
Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
Ph.D
She is a research scientist who earned her Ph.D in physics.
Ph.D = a research doctorate usually based on at least 3 years graduate study and a dissertation; the highest degree awarded in universities in many fields of study
Word Statistics
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |