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Philosophy — Core Concepts

Foundational ideas and thinkers in Western philosophy

S
socratic_method 15 terms Sep 9, 2025
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Terms 15

1
Epistemology
Branch of philosophy studying the nature and limits of knowledge
2
Metaphysics
Branch exploring the nature of reality, existence, and being
3
Ethics
Philosophical study of morality and right action
4
Utilitarianism
Ethical theory: maximize happiness for the greatest number; Mill, Bentham
5
Categorical Imperative
Kant's principle: act only according to rules you'd want universalized
6
Empiricism
Knowledge comes from sensory experience; Locke, Hume, Berkeley
7
Rationalism
Knowledge comes from reason, not senses; Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza
8
Existentialism
Individuals create their own meaning; Sartre, Camus, Heidegger
9
Plato's Forms
Theory that physical world is imperfect copy of abstract ideal Forms
10
Socratic Method
Dialogue technique using questioning to stimulate critical thinking
11
Nihilism
Belief that life has no inherent meaning or value
12
Determinism
All events are caused by prior events; free will is illusory
13
Moral Relativism
Moral judgments are not universally valid but relative to culture or individual
14
Dialectic
Method of inquiry through contradictions: thesis, antithesis, synthesis
15
A priori
Knowledge independent of experience; knowable through reason alone