Questions tagged [terminology]
The study of terms and their use.
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How can I understand references in Seneca's Moral letters to Lucilius?
I have been reading Seneca's Moral letters to Lucilius, and some times I find references that I don't understand. I'm not sure if this is a notation specific to these works or if it's a notation ...
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How to reconcile that physicists and science educators use the word "theory" incompatibly?
When science denialists say "just a theory", they are roundly chastised. Science educators (teachers, reporters, essayists, etc) are united that the word theory has a strong requirement:
Berkeley: "a ...
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The name for an anticipatory counter-argument?
There's the argument ad absurdum along with several other kind of reasoning.
What is the name for a forestalling counter-argument - an argument put forward pre-emptively in anticipation of an ...
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Do definitions of the mental substances come across the same problems as physicalism?
I've been reading up on physicalism both from the stanford encyclopedia article and a book on physicalism by Daniel Stoljar. I'm now well aware of the difficulties in defining physicalism let alone ...
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Is the true definition of a word "everything an object is not" until we learn otherwise?
..I am hoping that someone can help correct me if I am wrong or mislead.
Using a tree as an example to explain my question: it is difficult to narrow down an exact definition of a tree because every ...
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What does Nietzsche refer to with the "backworldsmen"?
I'm a rookie to philosophical thinking but trying my best to understand the concepts. I'd be appreciated if you could enlighten me about this:
In Chapter 3 of Thus Spake Zarathustra, he is addressing ...
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What kind of questions can science answer?
Please bear with me, as I am self-studying philosophy as a beginner.
My questions are about the limitations of empirical science.
During my reading of some books, I've come across statements of the ...
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What is the definition of 'object' in philosophy?
I have two examples in my mind that I'm unsure if they can be considered Objects:
The second usage of things, as in, each thing has usually a defined usage, but sometimes people use things in a ...
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Who first said that words express emotions, and do not describe objects?
I was reading a critique of Daniel Dennett's 'From Bacteria to Bach and Back', and in this criticism it is alleged that Dennett's conception of words as object descriptions is false. The suggestion ...
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If God does not exist then would God's heaven be classified as an "empty world"?
If God does not exist then would God's heaven, in the phrase "God is in his heaven" be classified as an "empty world"?
I have only encountered the phrase "empty world" in the SEP article on ...
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Meaning of nomic relation
I came across the concept of "nomic relation". I can't decipher what this term means. I can't find a meaningful definition in the sources either. So could any of you explain to me what does it mean?
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Related to "vagueness" definition
We got quiz today in the classroom. One of the questions are given below. I would be happy to hear your feedback on my answers.
Which ones are true for "vague" definition?
It means that it ...
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Is there a word like Gaia, but to refer to the people of the world?
Is there a word like Gaia, but to refer to the people of the world rather than the entire biosphere?
It might be the "Human Race" or the "Human Species", but I am thinking in conceptual terms or ...
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Is there a term for the belief that if it's illegal, it's immoral?
Closely related to Is there a term for the belief that "if it's legal, it's moral"?
Is there a term for the belief that if something is illegal, it's immoral? Is it simply a variant ...
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Is there a term for the belief that "if it's legal, it's moral"?
Sometimes I hear arguments that seem to appeal to the fact that something is morally permissible because it is legally permitted. For example:
Abortion is moral because it's legally permitted. ...
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Word for naming (complex, abstract) phenomena
Is there a word or a (catch) phrase for naming more or less complex, mostly abstract phenomena?
An example for this is the naming of the phenomenon known as serendipity as "serendipity".
Naming the ...
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What does it mean to have an "account" of something?
It seems like many of the papers I've read and the goal of many fields in Philosophy is to come up with an "account" for something.
For example, one of the goals of Epistemology is to come up with an ...
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What is the the difference between common sense and phronesis?
For refference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_sense
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phronesis
For me this started with Giambattista Vico who pretty much had the same idea of "common sense" ...
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How to create a "definition", such as "what is the definition of a bear"
Dictionary.com defines bear as:
Any of the plantigrade, carnivorous or omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, having massive bodies, coarse heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost ...
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What is moral particularism if there are no morally perfect persons?
Moral Particularism, at its most trenchant, is the claim that there
are no defensible moral principles, that moral thought does not
consist in the application of moral principles to cases, and ...
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Term for the idea that regardless of our philosophy, only the observable/physical matters
I'm looking for terms that define the following presuppositions:
every action should be valued based on its outcomes, not choosing is a choice
impact of an action must be valued based on the ...
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To View Things by their Function
Jordan Peterson regularly talks about how we view things in the world as tools, instead of mere objects. Some examples:
1) We see something as a chair because we can sit on it. If you cannot sit on ...
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What is the meaning of "comprehension" in logic?
I was reading about the axioms of Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory and the axiom of restricted comprehension. This led me to find out what the meaning of this word is and why it's called this. Then I saw ...
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Difference between 'marxist' and 'Marxist'?
What is the difference between 'marxist' (with a small 'm') and 'Marxist'? This question arose to me when I came across this:
It follows from this belief that if you can totally change the '...
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Social Response to Legal/Moral Duty Violation
When a person, especially a public figure, has committed a serious legal or moral violation, there is a tendency for friends/clients/companies/etc. to dissociate from that individual, even if the ...
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What does "it" refer to in this short Aristotle passage?
In this sentence: "In short, virtue is concerned with pleasures and pains; the actions that are its sources also increase it or, if they are done differently, ruin it" (Nicomachean Ethics ii3 1105a15)
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Where does 'numerical' in 'numerical identity' come from?
L.S.,
the word numerical has several meanings. E.g. numerical in the meaning ''given by numbers', and when saying Numerical Identity, meaning 'only one'.
When was the first time the word was ...
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Who invented definitions?
Is an intensional genus–differentia definition an invention of ancient greek philosopy?
"Chair is a seat typically having four legs and a back for one person"
Have you seen definitions like this ...
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Is there an established name for position that argues against law?
This is my position. But for some reason I'm sure I'm not the first to accept it (I guess some anarchists would have it). So, there likely should be other people with this position. Is there a name ...
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What is the difference between Theory of Knowledge and Epistemology?
What are the differences, similarities, and contrasts between the two fields of study, namely, Theory of Knowledge and Epistemology?
Are these terms interchangeable? Are they near-identical?
What ...
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If I want everyone to be a friend to everyone, am I an anarchist? [closed]
I am not defining friendship. It's easier to say what is not friendship. In most aspects there are some signifiers of friendship. What language do you use, how do you treat people, what do you feel. ...
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Identification and identity
One's identity is routinely associated with one's body, and most will readily make the claim that they are their body. Their body is the referent for their identity. I'm having a bit of a problem ...
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Interpretation and symbolic notations of operations in mathematics
As we know a mathematical operation is a function. And a function is a special type of relation. Ultimately a relation is a set of ordered pairs.
For example, what is addition of natural numbers? At ...
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What is the difference between the words "false" and "untrue"? [closed]
Since I don't have any philosophy background, please answer as simply as you can! Thank you!
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Can a theory become a law?
I'm just trying to speak properly and the definitions of fact, hypothesis, theory and law are quite mixed in my head.
Some background
The following are not perfect definitions but some ideas.
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What is the difference between object, concept and Gestalt?
Within the context of philosophical writings (i.e. not psychology), what is the difference and relations of the following terms:
Begriff
Gegenstand
Gestalt
For example as used by Frege ("Ueber ...
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Is there a term for the belief that what is popular in society defines what is moral?
I have observed a number of people who believe, either explicitly or implicitly, that what is popular in a person’s society is what is moral. For instance, someone might say:
Polls say that 90% of ...
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Term for a phrase meant to end an argument.
Is there a word for "a phrase which is intended to end discourse?"
such as
"That's just the way it is"
or
"If you don't like it, you can get out"
or
"Deal with it"
These statements are used in ...
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How valid is it to use concepts like "fundamentals", "origins" etc.? When are they valid? [closed]
How valid is it to use concepts like "fundamentals", "origins" etc. how are they to be judged?
Particularly, consider e.g.
Darwin's On the Origin of Species.
Now, to claim "the origin" suggests ...
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Does theism imply worship?
There are and were many theistic religions. In most if not all of them there is some kind of worship. However, as far as I am aware theism only means a belief in some kind of unworldly beings who ...
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What philosophy or philosophy branch can the following quote be attributed to? [closed]
Not everything that is worth it pays off , not everything that pays off is worth it.
I couldn't find anything specific per se. I only have a vague idea, something along the lines of it adhering to "...
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How do you talk about unclear or indefinite statements
In logic a statement can be
the assertion that is made by a true or false declarative sentence... a statement is viewed as a truth bearer
However, in everyday speech a statement is
a definite ...
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How would you define ‘existence’?
I was talking to a friend, and she said: even before the Big Bang and the origin of space and time, still something existed.
That sparked the question: how would you define ‘existence’? What ...
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What is “limited free will”? [closed]
I have heard that humans have a limited or constrained free will, especially when biological limitations are brought up. However, Merriam-Webster dictionary says:
Limited
1a: confined within limits: ...
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How to categorize a certain pattern of argumentation?
There happens to be a pattern where a discussant makes a statement about the world and his/her partner retorts with another statement or usually a question that translates the subject onto a ...
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Knowledge without a belief: do infants have beliefs?
We say that knowledge is connected with beliefs. Infants do some basic things required to sustain their life, like breathing. We can say they know how to breath. Maybe they do it aimlessly, but they ...
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How do I know the philosophy I'm going to read is something new for me and not just a waste of time?
I know it may sound like I'm thinking of myself as I already know everything within philosophy, every problem and every response. When I was 15 reading it could be interesting. However now, most ...
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Term or phrase for "widening definition(s) to find a signal" [closed]
I'm not sure this is simply philosophy and not also some term of art used in other domains, but it's definitely conceptual and it is used in observation of people.
I saw an article a while back ...
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Is atheism about the existence of Deities or a personal perception of Sacredness?
Wikipedia on atheism:
Atheism is, in the broadest sense, the absence of belief in the existence of deities.
Now what about deities?
A deity is a supernatural being considered divine or sacred.
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Extreme examples for exploring the scope of statements - does this technique have a name? - Is it a fallacy?
When discussing opinions with friends, I often resort to making extreme scenarios out of their opinions in an attempt to investigate the limits within which their statements hold true (to them). ...
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