Introduction to Philosophy

Rationalism

• A philosophical theory advocating that knowledge is gained through reason, not through sensory experience.

Tabula Rasa

• The term for the belief that the mind is a 'blank slate' at birth, meaning that individuals are born without innate knowledge and all knowledge is acquired through experience.

Ensoulment

• Refers to the process by which humans are given a soul.

Skepticism

• Philosophical attitude characterized by doubt, questioning the validity of knowledge claims.

Determinism

• Theory positing that every event or action is caused, suggesting that free will is an illusion.

Chariot Analogy

• Plato's comparison of the soul to a chariot, with the rational part as the charioteer, the spirited part as the spirited horse, and the appetitive part as the unruly horse.

Free Will

• The philosophical concept pertaining to the belief that human beings can choose and act freely, independent of external constraints.

Epistemology

• The philosophical study of knowledge, exploring its nature, sources, and limitations.

Determinism

• The view that every event has a cause, potentially leading to the belief that human beings cannot have free will, because their actions are predetermined.

Libertarianism

• Refers to the belief that the human will is free, allowing individuals to choose and act freely.

Empiricism

• Philosophical theory positing that knowledge is gained through our five senses, emphasizing sensory experience as the foundation of knowledge.

Ensoulment

• Religious belief that the soul is infused into the body, typically at conception or birth, giving a human being a spiritual dimension.

Determinism

• The theory that every event/action is caused, suggesting that free will is an illusion.

Tabula Rasa

• The belief that the mind is a 'blank slate' at birth, meaning that individuals are born without innate knowledge and all knowledge is acquired through experience.

Skepticism

• Philosophical attitude characterized by doubt, questioning the validity of knowledge claims.

Afterlife

• The concept of an existence beyond physical death. Beliefs about the soul's fate after death vary widely in different philosophical and religious traditions.

Body and Soul

• Plato viewed the body as a temporary vessel for the soul, which he believed was eternal and ultimately more real than the physical world.

Libertarianism

• The term for the belief that human beings can choose and act freely, independent of external constraints.

Determinism

• The view that every event has a cause, potentially leading to the belief that human beings cannot have free will, because their actions are predetermined.

Epistemology

• The philosophical study of knowledge, exploring its nature, sources, and limitations.

Skepticism

• A philosophical attitude of doubt, particularly the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain.

Rene Descartes

• Famously tried to doubt all of his beliefs in 'three waves of doubt' , a process of methodical skepticism in his quest for certainty.

Genetic Determinism

• The belief that our genes determine how we act, not just what we look like, suggesting a strong biological influence on behavior and personality.

Computationalism

• The view that our bodies are programmed like computers to respond in set ways to particular situations, emphasizing the role of internal mechanisms and processes in shaping our actions and thoughts.

Test your understanding of key concepts in the Introduction to Philosophy unit for Year 9. Explore ideas such as soul, dualism, and freewill as you engage with the fundamental principles of philosophical thought.