Chap 26 Flashcards
Logical Positivism
A philosophy that sees meaning in only those beliefs that can be empirically proven, and that therefore rejects most of the concerns of traditional philosophy, from the existence of God to the meaning of happiness, as nonsense.
Existentialism
A philosophy that stresses the meaninglessness of existence and the important of the individual in searching for moral values in an uncertain world.
Theory of Special Relativity
Albert Einstein’s theory that time and space are relative to the observer and that only the speed of light remains constant.
id, ego, and superego
Freudian terms to describe the three parts of the self and the basis of human behavior, which Freud saw as basically irrational.
Modernism
A label given to the artistic and cultural movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, which were typified by radical experimentation that challenged traditional forms of artistic expression.
Functionalism
The principle that buildings, like industrial products, should serve as well as possible the purpose for which they were made, without excessive ornamentation.
Bauhaus
A German interdisciplinary school of fine and applied arts that brought together many leading modern architects, designers, and theatrical innovators.
Dadaism
An artistic movement of the 1920’s and 1930’s that attacked all accepted standards of art and behavior and delighted in outrageous conduct.
Stream-of-Conscientiousness Technique
A literary technique, found in works by Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and others, that uses interior monologue – a character’s thoughts and feelings as they occur – to explore the human psyche.
Modern Girl
Somewhat stereotypical image of the modern and independent working woman popular in the 1920’s.
Dawes Plan
War reparations agreement that reduced Germany’s yearly payments, made payment dependent on economic prosperity, and granted large U.S. loans to promote recovery.
Great Depression
A worldwide economic depression from 1929 through 1933, unique in its severity and duration and with slow and uneven recovery.
Popular Front
A short-lived New Deal - inspired by Leon Blum that encouraged the union movement and launched a far-reaching program of social reform.
