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Worldviews Midterm
an overview of the worldviews, thier origin and main creators
32
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Undergraduate 4
10/20/2009

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Term
epistemology
Definition
the study of knowing, how we know.
Term
worldview
Definition
a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world.
Term
apologetics
Definition
defense of faith
Term
consequentialism
Definition
the end justifies the means, school of ethics
Term
hermaneutics
Definition
proper interpretation of scripture: 1- context (occasion who and why) And 2- other scripture
Term
transcendentialism
Definition
a philosophy holding that ultimate reality is unknowable or asserting the primacy of the spiritual over the material and empirical (thoreau and emerson)
Term
Gaia hypothesis
Definition
the earth is a super organism, a living breathing thing, has consciousness, has awareness
-originally naturalism, now new age
Term
tabula rosa
Definition
blank slate, born blank, experiences make the person (existentialism)
Term
deconstructionalism
Definition
if u break a passage down enough, the passage will contradict itself, there is not truth contained in anything, the meaning is in your own mind "language is a power play"
Term
evolutionism
Definition
the philosophy that everything evolves, evolution is the norm
Term
ocaam's razor
Definition
the simplest arguments is the right one, naturalism
Term
individualism
Definition
the most important person in life is ME! I deserve my fair share! After all, I've got it coming to me-- I work hard for it, or perhaps I deserve it simply because I'm me!
Term
pantheism
Definition
1. the doctrine identifying the Deity with the various forces and workings of nature, 2.belief in and worship of all gods
Rashneesh, Mahareshi mAhesh yogi)
Term
materialism
Definition
the most important thing in life is the ownership of various possessions. You can by happiness-- especially if you can acquire the most current products of high technology.
1. tHe philosophical theory that physical matter in its movements and modification is the only reality and that everything in the universe, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of physical laws.
2. the theory of doctrien that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitue the greatest good and highest value in life.
Term
animism
Definition
1. any of various primitive beliefs whereby natural phenomena and things animate and inanimate are held to possess an innate soul.
2. a theory of psychic concepts or of spiritual beings generally.
3. the hypothesis, first advanced by pythagoras and plato, of an immaterial force animating the universe
4. an 18th century doctrine that viewed the soul as the vital principle and source of both the normal and the abnormal phenomena of life.
Term
naturalism
Definition
1. conformity to nature; factual or realistic representation, especially, in art and lit.
2. Philos. the system of thought holding that all phenomena can be explained in terms of natural causes and laws without attributing moral, spiritual, or supernatural significance to them.
3. Theol. The doctrine that all religious truths are derived from nature and natural causes and not from revelation.
(Darwin, Richard Dawkins, Carl Sagan)
Term
sophism
Definition
(sophist) one of a class of teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece who became prominent about the middle of the 5th century BC and impressed by the conflicting opinions of the early nature philosophers developed subjectivistic, relativistic, and skeptical arguments, were the first to offer anything approaching systematic education beyond the elementary branches, and argued for the natural equality of men, but taught also the art of successful living and partly by virtue of their unorthodox opinions and their acceptance of pay for instruction gradually fell into disrepute.
Term
nihilism
Definition
a viewpoint that all traditionl valies and beliefs are unfounded and that all existence is consequently senseless and useless: a denial of intrinsic meaning and value in life.
Term
deism
Definition
a rationalistic movement of the 17th and 18th centuries whose adherents generally subscribed to a natural religion based on human reason and morality, on the belief on one God who after creating the world and laws governing it refrained from interfering with the operation of those laws, and on the rejection of every kind of supernatural intervention in human affairs.
Term
theism
Definition
belief in the existence of a god or gods; specif.: belief in the existence of one God who is viewed as the creative source of man, the world, and value and who transcends and yet is immanent in the world. a system of thought founded on the belief in one of mroe gods.
Term
existentialism
Definition
an introspective humanism or theory on man that holds that human existence is not exhaustively describable or understandable in either scientific or idealistic terms and relies upon a phenomenological approach that emphasizes the analysis of critical borderline situations in man's life and esp. of such intensely subkective phenomena as anxiety,suffering, and feelings of guilt in order to show the need for making decisive choices through a utilization of man's freedom in an uncertain, contingent, and apprantly purposeless world; a theory stating that man's individual existence precedes his essence and stressing his responsibility for fashioning his self. THe most important thing in life is the present. Live for the moment move quickly so not to miss out, and seek instant gratification when possible.
Term
hedonism
Definition
an ethical doctrine taught by the ancient Epicureans and Cyrenaics and by the modern utilitarians that asserts that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life. PLeasure, happiness and fun are the primary purpose of life. Pursue pleasure, minimize pain. Go ahead and pamper yourself. Indulge and enjoy.
Term
humanism
Definition
a doctrine, set of attitudes or way of life centered upon human interests or valuesl a philosophy that rejects supernaturalism, regards man a natural object, and asserts the essential dignity and worth of man and his capacity to achieve self- realization through the use of reason and scientific method.
Term
secularism
Definition
this is the view of life based on the premise that religion and religious considerations should be ignored or purposely excluded from the arena of life. God and the contents of scripture is not a concern. Such matters, even if taken seriously, more along lines of a personal hobby.
Term
marxism
Definition
a theory and practice of socialism developed by or associated with mArx and including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, economic determination of human actions and institutions, the class struggle as the fundamental force in history, and a belief that increasing concentration of industrial control in the capitalist class and conseqent intensification of class antagonisms and of misery among workers will lead to a revolutionary seizure of pwer by and the dictatorship of the proletariat and to the establishment of a classles society.
Term
dialectical materialism
Definition
the theory of reality advanced by KArl Marx and FRiedrich engels and adopted as the official Soviet philosophy combining elements of traditional materialism with the method of HEgel's dialectic and maintaining the independent objective reality of matter and its priority both in time and logical importance over mind.
Term
relativism
Definition
there is no objective truth about anything. rAther ,there are many truths depending on circumstances and one's own personal values. MAjority opinion is the best determiner of what will be true for a society.
Term
christianity
Definition
the christian religion, founded on the teachings of JEsus
Term
hinduism
Definition
a diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to and predominant in India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils.
Term
new age
Definition
the spirituality of the east with the logic of the west, the Soul of the one is the soul of the cosmos. THe cosmos unified in itself, manefested in 2 dimensions- (visible ordinary, consciouse and invisible mind 2 large in altered states of consciousness. (Tim LEary Tune in, turn on, drop out)
Term
eastern pantheistic monism
Definition
atman is brahman- the soul of the one is the soul of the cosmos, emphasis on the cosmos, a continuing cycle no beginning no end, purpose is to realize one's oneness with the cosmos. reincarnation after death, transmigration of the soul. we are god. we are part of the whole. some things are more one than others. Rashneesh, Mahareshi mahesh Yosi. dynamic meditation- state of mindlessness to be one with cosmos by chanting, sensory deprivation, out of head into body through creaming, jumping and yelling, and then stillness.
Term
postmodernism
Definition
all language is a human construct, "language is a power play" michel foucult, truth is relative, neitzhe, no such thing as absolute truth, people are what they create themselves to be. language is power. metanarratives apply to all people all places at all times, there is no truth in metanarratives, they are there to persuade peopel simply a construction of stories, its all about you, u gain something, beliefs are tools you choose anything you want to believe. combines existentialism with naturalism. all stories are equally valid, you cant really know.
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