1. aphorism: a brief statement of principle; a tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion2. dogma: a system of principles or tenets as of a church; prescribed doctrine; an established opinion or belief. Dogmas, derived from the Greek dokein, “to seem good,” are sometimes put forth without adequate grounds and arrogantly or vehemently proclaimed.
3. empirical: guided by practical experience and not theoretical
4. epistemology: the branch of theology that is concerned with the ultimate or last things-such as death, judgment, heaven, and hell.
5. eschatology: an idea or opinion founded on mistaken logic or perception. There are several types of logical fallacies: the fallacy of accident, of composition, of decision, of the antecedent, and of the consequences.
6. fallacy: an idea or opinion founded on mistaken logic or perception. There are several types of logical fallacies: the fallacy of accident, of composition, of division, of the antecedent, and of the consequence.
7. hedonism: pursuit of or devotion to pleasure; the ethical doctrine that what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good. In psychology, hedonism refers to the doctrine that behavior is motivated by desire for pleasure or the avoidance of pain.
8. pragmatism: the theory, developed by Charles S. Peirce and William James, that the meaning of a proposition or course of action lies in its observable consequences, and that the sum of these consequences constitutes its meaning; a method or tendency in the conduct of political affairs characterized by the rejection of theory and precedent and by the use of practical means and expedients. A pragmatic person is practical and active rather than contemplative. He may also tend to be meddlesome and officious.
9. predestination: the doctrine that God has foreordained whatever comes to pass, especially the salvation or damnation of individual souls.
10. ratiocination: the act of reasoning methodically or logically.
11. syllogism: in logic, a form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise (all men are foolish), a minor premise (Smith is a man), and a conclusion (therefore, Smith is foolish); a subtle or specious piece of reasoning. Opposed to syllogistic reasoning is inductive reasoning known as the scientific method, which reasons from a part to the whole, from the particular to the general, or from the individual to the universal.
12. teleology: the doctrine that final causes exist; design, purpose, or utility as an explanation of any natural phenomenon. In philosophy, teleology looks upon natural processes as determined by the design of a divine Providence rather than as purely mechanical determinism.
13. tenet: an opinion or doctrine held to be true.
14. theosophy: a system of philosophy or religion that proposes to establish direct, mystical contact with divine principles through contemplation or revelation. The doctrines of the modern Theosophical Societies incorporate elements of Buddhism and Brahmanism.
15. utilitarian: stressing the value of practical over aesthetic values. The theory of utilitarianism, proposed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill, held that all moral, social, or political action should be directed toward achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Exercises
I. Which Word Comes to Mind?
In each of the following, read the statement, then circle the word that comes to mind.
1. How do we know what we know?
(eschatology, epistemology, pragmatism)
2. If A is B and B is C, then A is C
(fallacy, dogma, syllogism)
3. Sherlock Holmes is a prime example
(tenet, ratiocination, teleology)
4. Don’t do it; it might hurt
(hedonism, aphorism, theosophy)
5. Daniel and Pearl forever
(empirical, utilitarian, predestination)
6. Use it or lose it
(utilitarian, aphorism, fallacy)
7. The quintessential principle that brooks no argument
(theosophy, teleology, dogma)
8. Beyond human comprehension
(eschatology, ratiocination, theosophy)
9. Respect for the old tried and true ways
(ratiocination, tenet, pragmatism)
10. Logic with a twist
(eschatology, teleology, syllogism)
II. True or False?
In the space provided, indicate whether each statement is true or false.
____ 1. A pragmatist and an empiricist are both more concerned with results than theories.
____ 2. Eschatology is deeply involved with daily rituals
____ 3. The explanation for the lion’s mane, the elephant’s trunk, the leopard’s spots falls in the province of teleology.
____ 4. A tenet is one of the ten basic principles of faith.
____ 5. Aphorism is the belief that natural phenomena can be understood only by a study of original causes.
____ 6. Epistemology is the science of letter writing.
____ 7. The empirical approach relies on observation and experience to determine truth.
____ 8. An assumption based on erroneous premises will inevitably be a fallacy.
____ 9. Theosophists generally spend a great deal of time in contemplation.
____ 10. tenets are those who “dwell in the house of the Lord.”
III. Find the Imposter
Find and circle the one word on each line that is not related to the other three
1. eschatology teleology utilitarian predestination
2. document dogma tenet doctrine
3. pragmatic experiential romantic empirical
4. laconic aphoristic pointed conjectural
5. hedonism affliction malaise paroxysm
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