Definitions Flashcards
A posteriori
Knowledge that can only be acquired from experience of the external world.
A priori
Knowledge that can be acquired without experience of the external world, through thought alone.
Abductive argument
A form of inductive argument which shows says that something is probably true because it is the best explanation. Perhaps due to its explanatory and predictive power, or because it makes the fewest assumptions (Ockham’s razor).
Ability knowledge
Knowledge of how to do something. For example, knowing how to ride a bike or how to juggle.
Acquaintance knowledge
Knowledge of something or someone. For example, “I know James well” or “I know Berlin well”.
Analytic reduction
If X analytically reduces to Y, then the meaning of X is the same as the meaning of Y. For example, “triangle” analytically reduces to “3-sided shape” because the meaning of “triangle” is “3 sided shape”.
Analytic truth
A proposition that is true in virtue of the meaning of the words. For example, “A bachelor is an unmarried man” or “triangles have 3 sides” or “1+1=2”. Denying an analytic truth results in a logical contradiction.
Antecedent
The first part of a conditional statement such as “if A then B”. In this example, the antecedent is “if A…”.
Arête
An ancient Greek word used by Aristotle to describe a property or virtue that enables something to achieve its ergon (function). For example, the arête of sharpness enables a knife to achieve its function (to cut things).
(Hard) Behaviourism
The view that propositions about mental states can be (analytically) reduced without loss of meaning to propositions about behaviours using the language of physics.
(Soft) Behaviourism
The view that propositions about mental states are propositions about behavioural dispositions.
Blik
An unfalsifiable belief that is held in the face of conflicting evidence, but that is nevertheless meaningful.
Categorical imperative
According to Kant, the categorical imperative we should all follow is to “act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction”.
Cognitive statement
Cognitive statements aim to literally describe how the world is and are either true or false. For example, “water boils at 100°c” or “triangles have 3 sides”.
Consequent
The consequent is the second part of a conditional statement such as “if A then B”. In this example, the consequent is “…then B”.
Consequentialist
An ethical theory that values as actions as good or bad according to their consequences.
Contingent truth
Something that is true but that might not have been true. For example, “Paris is the capital of France” is a contingent truth because they could have made Lyon the capital instead.
Contradiction
Two claims contradict one another if they cannot both be true simultaneously.
Contradiction in conception
A maxim leads to a contradiction in conception if it would somehow be self-contradictory for everyone to follow it. For example, if everyone followed the maxim “to steal” then it wouldn’t even be possible to steal because there would be no private property.
Contradiction in will
A maxim leads to a contradiction in will if you cannot rationally will that everyone follow it. For example, you cannot rationally will the maxim “never help people in need” if you yourself expect other people to help you when you’re in need.
Deduction
A method of deriving true propositions from other true propositions (using reason and logical necessity). It is an a priori method of gaining knowledge.
Deductive argument
An argument where the premises are intended to logically guarantee the conclusion (i.e. an argument that is intended to be logically valid).
Deontological ethics
Ethical theories that focus on duty, or what must be done. For example, Kant says we have a duty to follow the categorical imperative.
Direct realism
The view that a mind-independent external world exists and that we perceive it directly.