Terminology

Question 1

Environmentalism

Answer 1

The moral relationship of human beings to the environment

Question 2

Foundationalism

Answer 2

The proper structure of one’s knowledge or justified beliefs

Question 3

Cognitivism

Answer 3

Propositions can be true or false

Question 4

Pragmatism

Answer 4

• The evaluation of theories in terms of the success of their practical application
  OR
• Reality should be defined in terms of practical consequences

Question 5

Positivism

Answer 5

If something is useful it does not need to be 100% true

Question 6

Idealism

Answer 6

• Knowledge is dependent on the mind

- Cartesian idealism: the only thing that can be known is whatever is in our minds

Question 7

Syllogism

Answer 7

An argument containing two or or premises and often hidden premises

Question 8

Asserting the Consequent

Answer 8

Premise ambiguity

Question 9

Circular

Answer 9

Assumes the very thing you are trying to prove

Question 10

Straw-Man

Answer 10

Not addressing the argument presented, instead misrepresenting it for easier attack

Question 11

Ad-Hominem

Answer 11

An attack against the character of the person giving the argument, rather than the argument itself

Question 12

Consequentialism

Answer 12

The rightness of an action is determined by the goodness or badness of the consequences of the action

Question 13

Monism and Dualism

Answer 13

Monism: mind and brain are one and the same

Dualism: mind and brain are separate, but interact (mental properties are not physical properties)

Question 14

Constructivism

Answer 14

The mind imposes structure on the world (all of our knowledge is constructed)

OR

All our knowledge is contingent on human perception and experience

Question 15

Empiricism

Answer 15

Knowledge may be brought through the senses

Question 16

Fatalism

Answer 16

Certain events are fated to happen

Question 17

Functionalism

Answer 17

The function of a thing is its operation within a system

Question 18

Epicureanism

Answer 18

Live modestly to attain pleasure

Question 19

Cynicism

Answer 19

Virtue is to live a natural life, rejecting convention

Question 20

Scepticism

Answer 20

Proper knowledge of anything is impossible

Question 21

Stoicism

Answer 21

Man is influenced by those around him

Question 22

Naturalism

Answer 22

All knowledge derives from the methods we use to study the natural world

Question 23

Epistemology

Answer 23

How we gain and test knowledge of the world and justified belief

Question 24

Phenomenology

Answer 24

How an experience seems to the person experiencing it

Question 25

Rationalism

Answer 25

Truth and knowledge may be arrived at through reason alone

Question 26

Instrumentalism

Answer 26

Concepts and theories are merely useful instruments, and their worth is not measured on whether or not they are true or false

Question 27

Mentalism

Answer 27

The mind and mental states exist and causally impact the inner state of a person

Question 28

Structuralism

Answer 28

Everything is explained as a complex system with interrelated parts

Question 29

Teleology

Answer 29

Explanation by purpose, direction or goal

Question 30

Sophism

Answer 30

A bad argument presented as if it were a good one in order to deceive, mislead or cheat someone

Question 31

Solipsism

Answer 31

Only what is in my mind exists or is known

Question 32

Relativism

Answer 32

There is no objective truth, only the truths that a particular individual or culture happen to believe

Question 33

Ontology

Answer 33

The nature and reality of things

Question 34

Reductionism

Answer 34

A theory that reduces or oversimplifies something in order to make it easy to study

Question 35

Realism

Answer 35

The real world as directly knowable and exists independently of the mind