PTE Flashcards
Conspiracy
A secret organization carried out by a group of plotters who are working towards some end.
Typically this “end” is something immoral, which is why it is secretive.
Examples of conspiracies
1) Powerful people might want to remove their opponents to safeguard their power
2) Scientists carrying out experiments on unsuspecting citizens
3) An orchestrated assassination as reason to go to war.
Cult
A system or a group of people who practice excessive devotion to a figure, object of belief system.
Key concepts:
1) A leader who preaches an explicit belief system of ideology and is followed by unquestioning believers
2) Followers persuaded to perform questionable and illegal acts deemed necessary by the leader
Polarisation
When society involved opposed and separate groups within it, each having clear identities and people become more partisan in their thinking
Partisan
A strong supporter of a party, clause, or person
Personhood
A “human” with emotions and their own thoughts. People with a soul and a body.
In this case, having a gender, religion, or citizenship would not matter.
Euthanasia
Having help provided to end you life - technically assisted killing by doctors
Types of Euthanasia
Passive and Active
Passive Euthanasia
Withdrawing necessary life support systems to allow an individual to die naturally.
Legal in UK (only with consent by individual, doctors and family).
Active Euthanasia
Providing substances that will terminate someone’s life immediately.
Illegal in UK (both voluntary and involuntary).
Pro-choice
(Abortion)
Allowing abortion
Pro-life
(Abortion)
Not allowing abortion
Quality of life
(Abortion)
Allows abortion only if individua has extreme disability / depending on background (e.g. extremely poor family) / etc.
Culture
(Definition)
Shared norms, values, ideas, patterns of learned behaviour
Examples of Culture
Religion
Gender
Genes / DNA / Family
Dialects / Languages
Nationality / Heritage
Place of Birth / where you live now
Traditions / Rituals
Consciousness
The state of being aware, as a sentient being. Refers to the ways in which we interact with ourselves and the world around us.
Types of Consciousness
Dualism and Materialism
Dualism
(Consciousness)
The belief that we are made of two separate parts: a physical body and a spiritual soul
Materialism
(Consciousness)
The view that nothing else exists apart from matter. All we have, as human beings, is a physical body; there is no soul or spirit
