A growing lexicon of philosophical and technical terms. Wittgenstein said "the limits of my language mean the limits of my world"—this is my attempt to expand both.
A tradition of philosophy that emphasizes clarity, logical rigor, and analysis of language and concepts. Dominant in the English-speaking world since the early 20th century, characterized by attention to argument, precision, and often connection to formal logic and science. Contrasts with continental philosophy.
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A statement that is true by virtue of the meanings of the words alone, independent of empirical facts. For example, "All bachelors are unmarried" is analytically true because being unmarried is part of the definition of bachelor. Contrasts with synthetic truths, which depend on facts about the world.
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Left or handed down to another through a will; passed on or transmitted to a successor.
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A cause of obsessive fear, anxiety, or irritation; something that causes excessive worry or concern, often out of proportion to its actual importance.
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Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; having a purifying or purging effect on the emotions.
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Leon Festinger's theory describing the mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes simultaneously, especially when behavior conflicts with beliefs.
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Confused or perplexed; bewildered. Also used as a mild oath expressing annoyance or emphasis. In research contexts, refers to variables that are mixed together, making it difficult to determine which is responsible for an observed effect.
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A false belief held despite evidence to the contrary; an idiosyncratic belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality or rational argument.
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Giving a false or misleading impression; deceptive or illusory in nature.
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A fault, disadvantage, or undesirable feature; a mark against someone for misconduct or poor performance.
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A philosophical position regarding knowledge and perception, particularly concerning our ability to detect or identify features of reality through our sensory and cognitive faculties.
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Errors or omissions in observation or analysis that may be unconsciously motivated, related to Freudian concepts of repression and the unconscious mind.
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A person, typically a woman, who is dowdy, old-fashioned, and unattractive in appearance or dress.
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German term meaning "form" or "shape." A configuration or pattern of elements so unified that it cannot be described merely as the sum of its parts. In psychology, refers to the principle that the mind perceives whole forms and patterns, not just collections of individual elements.
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A plant that turns toward the sun; also refers to a light purple color. From Greek helios (sun) + tropos (turn).
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Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that enable quick, practical problem-solving and decision-making; experience-based techniques for learning and discovery.
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A distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a person; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual.
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A misperception of external reality; a false or misleading perception in which something appears different from what it actually is. Distinct from delusion, which is a false belief.
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To dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive; to call into question; to challenge or attack as false.
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Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed; persistently bad or difficult.
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Words or phrases whose reference depends on the context of utterance, such as "I," "here," "now," "this," "that." Their meaning shifts based on who is speaking, when, and where.
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Poor; needy; lacking the necessities of life. Describes a person in a condition of extreme poverty, often used in legal contexts to describe someone unable to afford legal representation or other basic services.
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A chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-1), most commonly caused by alcohol misuse. Characterized by severe memory impairment, particularly for new information, and confabulation.
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To arrange or assemble in order; to gather together and organize resources, facts, or arguments for a particular purpose.
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Apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually. Used to indicate that something appears to be true but may not be.
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A system of logic that allows for contradictions without trivializing the entire logical system. Unlike classical logic, where a single contradiction implies everything, paraconsistent logic contains contradictions in controlled ways.
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The philosophical view that physical objects do not exist as things in themselves but only as perceptual phenomena or bundles of sense data. Objects are logical constructions from sense experiences. A form of idealism that reduces material objects to patterns of sensory experience.
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The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of language, meaning, reference, and the relationship between language, thought, and reality. Investigates how words relate to the world and how language shapes our understanding.
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The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of the mind, mental events, consciousness, and their relationship to the physical body. Central questions include the mind-body problem, the nature of consciousness, and how mental states relate to brain states.
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Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. In philosophy, relates to pragmatism—a philosophical tradition that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of their practical consequences and usefulness.
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Speaking or acting in an evasive way; deliberately avoiding telling the truth or giving a direct answer; equivocating.
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In a manner that enforces uniformity or conformity by violent or arbitrary means. From Procrustes, a figure in Greek mythology who stretched or cut his victims to fit his bed. Refers to forcing something to fit a predetermined pattern, often at the expense of accuracy or truth.
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Relating to medieval scholasticism, the system of philosophy and theology taught in medieval European universities, characterized by formal disputation and commentary on Aristotle and Christian doctrine.
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The immediate, private objects of sensory experience—the colors, sounds, smells, textures we directly perceive. A philosophical concept suggesting that what we directly experience are not physical objects themselves but mental representations or sensory impressions. Central to debates about perception and knowledge.
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A formula describing how light bends when passing between media of different densities. Often used in philosophy as an example of how appearances can differ from reality—a stick looks bent in water because light refracts, illustrating the distinction between how things appear and how they actually are.
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A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve a goal through deception or cunning. A cleverly devised trick or tactic designed to gain an advantage.
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Latin term meaning "suggestion of falsehood." A misrepresentation by suggesting something false, typically through misleading statements or implications rather than outright lies.
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In philosophy, to occur as something additional or extraneous; a property supervenes on another when changes in the former cannot occur without changes in the latter. Often used in discussions of mind-body relationships.
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A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion. Example: "All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal."
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Expressing or promoting a particular cause or viewpoint in a biased or controversial way; having a tendency to advance a particular point of view.
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The quality of being unfriendly, disagreeable, or incompatible; lack of harmony or pleasantness in temperament or environment.
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In a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; showing strong feeling or conviction.
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Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character; deserving reverence.
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Truthful, accurate, or corresponding to reality. In philosophy, particularly used to describe perceptions or experiences that accurately represent the external world.
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To grant or give something to someone in a gracious or condescending manner; to deign to give or allow.
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German term meaning "spirit of the time." The defining mood, ideas, or cultural climate of a particular historical period. The intellectual and cultural atmosphere that characterizes and influences a generation or era.
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