Podcasts/Reading Flashcards
Metaphysics
metaphysics /mɛtəˈfɪzɪks /
▸ plural noun [usually treated as singular] the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, identity, time, and space:
they would regard the question of the initial conditions for the universe as belonging to the realm of metaphysics or religion.
▪ abstract theory with no basis in reality:
his concept of society as an organic entity is, for market liberals, simply metaphysics.
Metaphysics has two main strands: that which holds that what exists lies beyond experience (as argued by Plato), and that which holds that objects of experience constitute the only reality (as argued by Kant, the logical positivists, and Hume). Metaphysics has also concerned itself with a discussion of whether what exists is made of one substance or many, and whether what exists is inevitable or driven by chance.
–DERIVATIVES
metaphysicize /-ˈfɪzɪsʌɪz/ (British also metaphysicise) verb
–ORIGIN mid 16th century : representing medieval Latin metaphysica (neuter plural), based on Greek ta meta ta phusika ‘the things after the Physics’, referring to the sequence of Aristotle’s works: the title came to denote the branch of study treated in the books, later interpreted as meaning ‘the science of things transcending what is physical or natural’.
Epistemology
epistemology /ɪˌpɪstɪˈmɒlədʒi , ɛˌpɪstɪˈmɒlədʒi/
▸ noun [mass noun] Philosophy the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion.
–DERIVATIVES
epistemologist noun
–ORIGIN mid 19th century : from Greek epistēmē ‘knowledge’, from epistasthai ‘know, know how to do’.
Putative
putative /ˈpjuːtətɪv /
▸ adjective [attributive] generally considered or reputed to be:
the putative author of the book.
–DERIVATIVES
putatively /ˈpjuːtətɪvli / adverb
–ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French putatif, -ive or late Latin putativus, from Latin putat- ‘thought’, from the verb putare.
Indefeasible
indefeasible
indefeasible /ˌɪndɪˈfiːzɪb(ə)l /
▸ adjective Law & Philosophy not subject to being lost, annulled, or overturned:
an indefeasible right.
–DERIVATIVES
indefeasibility /ˌɪndɪfiːzɪˈbɪlɪti / noun
indefeasibly adverb
Entail
entail /ɪnˈteɪl , ɛnˈteɪl/
▸ verb [with object]
1 involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence:
a situation which entails considerable risks.
▪ Logic have as a logically necessary consequence.
2 Law limit the inheritance of (property) over a number of generations so that ownership remains within a particular family or group:
her father’s estate was entailed on a cousin.
▪ archaic cause to experience or possess (something) permanently or inescapably:
I cannot get rid of the disgrace which you have entailed upon us.
▸ noun Law a limitation of the inheritance of property to certain heirs over a number of generations:
the damage being done in England by entails
[mass noun] landed property was governed by primogeniture and entail.
▪ a property bequeathed under an entail:
the spinning mills were not part of the entail.
–DERIVATIVES
entailment /ɪnˈteɪlm(ə)nt , ɛnˈteɪlm(ə)nt / noun
–ORIGIN late Middle English (referring to settlement of property; formerly also as intail): from en-1, in-2 ‘into’ + Old French taille ‘notch, tax’ (see tail2).
Interlocutor
interlocutor /ˌɪntəˈlɒkjʊtə /
▸ noun formal a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation.
–DERIVATIVES
interlocution /ˌɪntələˈkjuːʃ(ə)n / noun
–ORIGIN early 16th century: modern Latin , from Latin interlocut- ‘interrupted (by speech)’, from the verb interloqui, from inter- ‘between’ + loqui ‘speak’.
Disjunction
disjunction /dɪsˈdʒʌŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n /
▸ noun
1 a lack of correspondence or consistency:
there is a disjunction between the skills taught in education and those demanded in the labour market.
2 [mass noun] Logic the relation of two distinct alternatives.
▪ [count noun] a statement expressing the relation of two distinct alternatives (especially one using the word ‘or’).
–ORIGIN late Middle English : from Latin disjunctio(n-), from disjungere ‘disjoin’ (see disjunct).
Syllogism
syllogism /ˈsɪlədʒɪz(ə)m /
▸ noun an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises); a common or middle term is present in the two premises but not in the conclusion, which may be invalid (e.g. all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs).
▪ [mass noun] deductive reasoning as distinct from induction:
this school of epistemology is highly advanced in syllogism and logical reasoning.
–DERIVATIVES
syllogistic /sɪləˈdʒɪstɪk / adjective
syllogistically /sɪləˌˈdʒɪstɪk(ə)li/ adverb
–ORIGIN late Middle English : via Old French or Latin from Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai, from sun- ‘with’ + logizesthai ‘to reason’ (from logos ‘reasoning’).
Bourgeoisie
bourgeoisie /ˌbʊəʒwɑːˈziː /
▸ noun [treated as singular or plural] the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes:
the rise of the bourgeoisie at the end of the eighteenth century
the landed gentry were replaced by a local bourgeoisie.
▪ (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class who own most of society’s wealth and means of production:
the conflict of interest between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
–ORIGIN early 18th century: French , from bourgeois.
Proletariat
proletariat /ˌprəʊlɪˈtɛːrɪət / (also archaic proletariate)
▸ noun [treated as singular or plural] working-class people regarded collectively (often used with reference to Marxism):
the growth of the industrial proletariat.
▪ the lowest class of citizens in ancient Rome.
–ORIGIN mid 19th century : from French prolétariat, from Latin proletarius (see proletarian).
Esoteric
esoteric /ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪk , ˌiːsəˈtɛrɪk/
▸ adjective intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest:
esoteric philosophical debates.
–DERIVATIVES
esoterically adverb
esotericism /ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪsɪz(ə)m , ˌiːsəˈtɛrɪsɪz(ə)m / noun
esotericist noun
–ORIGIN mid 17th century : from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, comparative of esō ‘within’, from es, eis ‘into’. Compare with exoteric.
pejorative
pejorative / pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv / ▸ adjective expressing contempt or disapproval : permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term . ▸ noun a word expressing contempt or disapproval : most of what he said was inflammatory and filled with pejoratives . – DERIVATIVES pejoratively / pɪˈdʒɒrətɪvli / adverb – ORIGIN late 19th century: from French péjoratif , -ive , from late Latin pejorare ‘ make worse ’ , from Latin pejor ‘ worse ’ .
petulance
petulance / ˈpɛtʃʊl(ə)ns / ▸ noun [ mass noun ] the quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered : a slight degree of petulance had crept into his voice .
