Philosophy Dictionary

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

A Priori Knowledge: Genus: Knowledge; Differentia: Existing Prior to experience; Link: Article
Absolute: Genus: Condition of validity; Differentia: Unconditional / always true
Abstraction: Genus: Mental process; Differentia: Forms a generalization from particulars
Agnosticism: Genus: Position on the existence of God; Differentia: The claim of non-belief in God and the non-disbelief in God - that the state of Gods existence is unknowable; Comment: This is an example of the evasion of the Law of Excluded Middle.
Altruism: Genus: Code of Ethics; Differentia: The welfare of others is the standard of the good / holds the sacrifice of the self to others as the good; Link: Article
Amoralism: Genus: Code of Ethics; Differentia: There is no right or wrong, no standard of value by which to judge actions
Anarchy: Genus: Political Theory; Differentia: Government is unnecessary and evil; Link: Article
Anti-Concept: Genus: Concept; Differentia: Unusable term that destroys a valid concept
Anti-Conceptual Mentality: Genus: Mentality; Differentia: The tendency to think only in concretes and not in principles
Antitrust: Genus: Law; Differentia: Regulations on successful businesses; Comment: Tries to promote economic competition through force - the only way to destroy competition. It is based on a false notion of competition.; Link: Article
Arbitrary: Genus: Judgment of the validity of a claim; Differentia: Not based on any evidence for or against
Argument From Analogy: Genus: Inductive Proof; Differentia: Because two things are similar in some respects, they are likely to be similar in other respects
Argument From Analogy for Other Minds: Genus: Argument From Analogy; Differentia: Claims that because you have a mind and act rationally, other people who act rationally also have minds.
Argument From Design: Genus: Argument From Analogy; Differentia: Claims the existence for God because some complicated things are made by people therefore complicated natural phenomena must also have some designer i.e. God; Comment: Violates Occam's Razor, among other things
Argument From Intimidation: Genus: Argument; Differentia: Claim that the denial of the validity of an argument is immoral; Comment: This is a logical fallacy which appeals to moral self-doubt.
Aristotle: Genus: Philosopher; Differentia: Developer of the laws of logic; believed that reality is real and knowable
Asceticism: Genus: Ethical System; Differentia: Holds that true meaning and beauty can only be non-physical, and therefore one should refrain from all physical pleasures
Atheism: Genus: Position on the existence of God; Differentia: The non-belief in God
Axiom: Genus: Statement; Differentia: An irreducible primary that is logically undeniable; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Beauty: Genus: Trait; Differentia: A sense of harmony
Behaviorism: Genus: Branch of psychology; Differentia: Acceptance that men's actions are merely a direct response to external stimuli; Comment: This denies Free Will.
Belief: Genus: Mental process; Differentia: The acceptance that an idea is true; Comment: Belief omits degrees.
Benevolent Universe Premise: Genus: View of the world; Differentia: The universe is neutral - it simply is; but man, if acting in accordance with reality can achieve his values and flourish

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Capitalism: Genus: A social system; Differentia: Based on individual rights including property rights, meaning that all property is privately owned; Link: Article
Causality: Genus: Relationship; Differentia: Describes how all causes have specific effects / all actions have specific reactions according to the nature of the entities involved; Comment: This is the law of identity applied over time
Certainty: Genus: Degree of belief; Differentia: When there are no doubts - all evidence is for and there is no evidence against a proposition; Comment: Certainty is contextual.; Link: Article
Chance: Genus: Explanation; Differentia: Describes future events that are unknown or past events with unclear causes
Character: Genus: Aspect of a person's personality; Differentia: That which is shaped by the fundamental moral values he accepts and automatizes
Charity: Genus: Gift; Differentia: Motivated by pity
Closed Minded: Genus: Mentality; Differentia: Rational evasion of new ideas; Comment: Opposite of Open Minded
Civil Disobedience: Genus: Crime; Differentia: Committed as a protest against a specific law
Collective Rights: Genus: A set of privileges; Differentia: Granted to groups under the pretense of "rights"; Comment: This is based on the false notion of positive rights.
Collectivism: Genus: A view of the individuals position in society; Differentia: Man is a generic cog in the machine of society with society as the basic unit of reality and values
Common Good: Genus: Value; Differentia: Of value to a group; Comment: A group is only a collection of individuals and as such, can not value anything apart from what individuals in that group individually value. "Common Good" is a fallacious concept based on the premise of collectivism.
Communism: Genus: Type of government; Differentia: Explicit Common ownership of all property and people; Comment: 100 million murdered and counting; Link: Article
Community Service: Genus: Action; Differentia: A contradictory term ostensibly meaning to provide a service to the community; Comment: It is not a service because it is typically done without compensation and it is not value providing to the community since a community can have no standard of value.
Compassion: Genus: Empathy; Differentia: Towards suffering people that you value; Comment: Compassion for evil people is context-dropping.
Concept: Genus: Mental Abstraction; Differentia: Integrates two or more particulars into a common mental unit; Link: Article
Consciousness: Genus: State of existence; Differentia: Characterized by having an awareness of reality; Link: Article
Conservative (political): Genus: Political position; Differentia: Generally supports government intervention in social issues but supports freedom in economic issues
Context: Genus: Information; Differentia: Specific background or circumstance relevant to a topic
Context-Dropping: Genus: Action; Differentia: Ignoring contextual details that are relevant and important to an idea
Contract: Genus: Agreement; Differentia: Legally binding specification of the terms of a trade that takes place over time
Contradiction: Genus: Relationship between two ideas; Differentia: Both the ideas can not be true because each necessitates the falsity of the other; Comment: Contradictions, by definition, do not exist.
Corollary: Genus: Idea; Differentia: Necessitated by the truth of another idea or ideas
Cosmology: Genus: Science; Differentia: Studies the origin and nature of the universe
Cosmology, Monistic: Genus: Cosmology; Differentia: Traces the origin of the universe to a single substance
Cosmology, Pluralistic: Genus: Cosmology; Differentia: Traces the origin of the universe to multiple substances
Creation: Genus: Action; Differentia: To rearrange existents in a purposeful manner
Culture: Genus: Set of ideas, traditions and beliefs; Differentia: Shared by a group of people
Cynicism: Genus: Attitude or perspective; Differentia: Looking at things with the view that man is evil; Comment: People are cynical of government. They think that politicians do things to further their own personal goals, instead of the goals shared by the rest of the populace

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Deduction: Genus: Mental process of forming conclusions based on premises; Differentia: Goes from the general to the specific; Comment: Traditionally philosophers have treated Deduction as the only means to certainty. This is misbegotten.; Link: Article
Definition: Genus: Description; Differentia: Fundamentally describes a concept; Link: Article
Deflation: Genus: Change in the money supply; Differentia: Decrease
Democracy: Genus: Type of government; Differentia: Rule by the people; Comment: In true democracy, all government decisions are made by vote.; Link: Article
Determinism: Genus: Theory of causality; Differentia: Everything in the universe is predetermined directly by previous events; Comment: This is often used as a method of denying free will, but that denial is a dropping of context.; Link: Article
Dogma: Genus: A set of beliefs; Differentia: Accepted on faith
Duty: Genus: A moral obligation; Differentia: Caused by an obedience to a higher authority; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Economic Interventionism: Genus: Government policy; Differentia: Forceful manipulation of the free market in the hopes of achieving some particular end; Comment: This never works out well.
Economic Power: Genus: Power to persuade; Differentia: Gained through trade and production; Comment: The opposite of political power
Economy: Genus: System; Differentia: Of production, trade, and consumption
Egalitarianism: Genus: Ethical belief; Differentia: That mean should be equal; Link: Article
Egoism: Genus: Ethical system; Differentia: The self is the standard of value; Comment: Variants of Egoism include Hedonism and Rational Egoism
Either-Or: see: Law of Excluded Middle
Emergency: Genus: Event or Situation; Differentia: Unexpected event causing temporary conditions where human survival is impossible
Emotions: Genus: Subconscious responses; Differentia: Automated; triggered and programmed by ones thoughts and value judgments; Link: Article
Empiricism: Genus: Epistemological theory; Differentia: Experience is the sole source of knowledge; Comment: Denies the knowledge gained by abstract reasoning (i.e. induction and deduction.
Enlightenment, Age of: Genus: Period of history; Differentia: 18th century; period when reason was accepted as valid and respected
Entity: Genus: Existent; Differentia: As a particular and discrete unit
Environmentalism: Genus: Ethical system; Differentia: Holds nature untainted by man as the standard of value; Comment: The corollary to this is that man and anything that man does is evil.
Epicureanism: Genus: Hedonism; Differentia: Standard of value is happiness or the avoidance of pain
Epistemological: Genus: Nature of a concept; Differentia: Concept is a mental entity; Comment: As opposed to being a physical entity or an intrisic property
Epistemology: Genus: Branch of philosophy; Differentia: Dealing with knowledge, how it is gained, and its relationship to reality; Link: Article
Esthetics: Genus: Branch of Philosophy; Differentia: Deals with art and its purpose; Link: Article
Ethics: Genus: Branch of Philosophy; Differentia: Deals with how man should act; Link: Article
Evasion: Genus: Mental process; Differentia: Intentional attempt to deny, overlook, or ignore information or ideas; Link: Article
Evil: Genus: Characteristic of an action; Differentia: Opposes a moral standard of value
Existence: Genus: Collection of entities; Differentia: Including everything that has actual being; Comment: This include mental entities existing as mental entities; Link: Article
Existent: Genus: Thing; Differentia: That exists; Comment: This includes entities, attributes, and actions.
Existentialism: Genus: Philosophy; Differentia: Holds that there is no intrinsic meaning or purpose, therefore it is up to each individual to determine his own meaning and purpose and take responsibility for his actions. Views the world as "absurd".; Link: External Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Faith: Genus: Belief; Differentia: Accepted without reason or evidence and often in spite of evidence; Link: Article
False: Genus: Identification of a proposition; Differentia: Not corresponding to reality
Fatalism: Genus: Determinism; Differentia: Holds that all future events are determined by fate and unalterable
Focus: Genus: Mental action; Differentia: Direct the mind toward a particular topic; Link: Article
Force: Genus: A method of creating or sustaining any interaction; Differentia: Not voluntary by all parties; Link: Article
Fraud: Genus: Deception; Differentia: Employed to gain value; Link: Article
Free Market: Genus: Freedom; Differentia: People can trade their goods and services by mutual consent, without coercion; Link: Article
Free Speech: Genus: Freedom; Differentia: People are permitted to speak without interference or punishment of the government; Comment: This freedom does not require others to provide you with the means to speak; Link: Article
Free Will: Genus: An ability; Differentia: The mind's power to make choices; Link: Article
Freedom: Genus: Action; Differentia: Voluntary, in the absence of coercion
Fundamental: Genus: Attribute (of an attribute); Differentia: Within a context, the most important characteristic; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

God: Genus: A being; Differentia: Omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omnipresent, unlimited creator of the universe; Comment: It's defined by it's lack of characteristics and limits. Invalid concept.; Link: Article
Gold Standard - a system of money: Genus: System of money; Differentia: Characterized by the actual use some commodity; Comment: Historically, gold was one such standard that tended to work the best in the free market.
Government: Genus: Organization; Differentia: Within a specific geographic location that is dominant in physical force; Link: Article
Guild Socialism: Genus: Socialism; Differentia: Public ownership is divided by profession; Comment: The grouping of all men of a certain profession into one group with that group deciding what and how the work should be done, and receiving the benefits of its labor. All other men outside the group must be barred from that profession.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Happiness: Genus: A state of consciousness; Differentia: Based on the achievements of one's values, it is characterized by pleasure and satisfaction
Hedonism: Genus: Ethical system; Differentia: The standard of value is whatever gives you pleasure; Link: Article
Hierarchy of Knowledge: Genus: A structure of knowledge; Differentia: Some ideas are based on the others, forming multiple levels of abstraction, where the base is perception; Link: Article
Human Rights: see: Rights
Humility: Genus: virtue/anti-concept; Differentia: Evading one's possession of other virtues; Comment: Humility demands that you never take credit for your virtues. It is the opposite of pride; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Identity: Genus: Aspect of existence; Differentia: All characteristics of an entity; Link: Article
Ideology: Genus: A set of beliefs; Differentia: Describes perfection or a worthy aim
Imagination: Genus: Mental faculty; Differentia: The ability to rearrange observations into forms which one has not directly perceived
Implicit Knowledge: Genus: Knowledge; Differentia: Hasn't been identified explicitly, but is used in the process of reasoning nonetheless; Comment: Most aspects of philosophy are grasped implicitly before they are properly defined. An example is the concept of existence, which is required for any other knowledge, but can go left implicit throughout one's life.
Inalienable Rights: Genus: Rights; Differentia: Refers to the fact that rights are inalienable, meaning they cannot be removed from the bearer for any reason
Independence: Genus: Virtue; Differentia: Never requires or desires the unearned; Link: Article
Individualism: Genus: A view of the individuals position in society; Differentia: Society is merely a sum of individuals
Induction: Genus: Mental process of forming conclusions based on premises; Differentia: Goes from the specific to the generic; Link: Article
Infinity: Genus: A conceptual tool used to indicate a measurement; Differentia: Without a particular boundary / unbounded; Comment: This contradicts the law of identity, so should be recognized as a metaphysical impossibility.
Inflation: Genus: Change in the money supply; Differentia: Increase; Comment: Often accompanied by a general increase in prices, the term is mostly misused to refer to the price increases, which is just a possible effect.
Initiation of Force: Genus: Act; Differentia: One man causing the beginning of a not mutually voluntary relationship; Link: Article
Instinct: Genus: Knowledge; Differentia: Automatic and innate, prescribing actions required for survival; Comment: Instincts are not actually a form of knowledge, although the effect is the same. Knowledge is the product of a mental process. Instincts bypass this entirely.
Integrity: Genus: Virtue; Differentia: Practicing one's convictions; Link: Article
Intellectuals: Genus: People; Differentia: Involved in complex, abstract reasoning
Intelligence: Genus: A mental faculty; Differentia: The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge
Intrinsic: Genus: The source of an attribute; Differentia: The attribute is inherent in the entity; Comment: Intrinsic means the attribute exists without relation to another object.
Intrinsic Theory of Value: Genus: A theory of the source of values; Differentia: Values exist as an aspect of a physical object, without relation to the valuer; Link: Article
Introspection: Genus: Process of cognition; Differentia: Directed inwards or at one's mental or psychological state
Invalid Concept: Genus: A mental construct; Differentia: The product of an attempt to integrate contradictions and errors, or to use a word without having a specific definition; Comment: An invalid concept superficially appears to be a concept, but it has no referents in reality, and can not be used meaningfully.
Irrationalism: Genus: An epistemological belief; Differentia: Reason is not valid or useful
Isolationism: Genus: A position on foreign policy; Differentia: Having no concern for the rest of the world; Comment: This is an anti-concept. Although defined as above, it is used to refer to any foreign policy aimed at national self-interest. It's a smear to be used against anyone who argues against a foreign policy.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Justice: Genus: Virtue; Differentia: Treating others as they deserve to be treated; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Kant, Immanuel: Genus: Philosopher; Differentia: Believed that reality as we see it is distorted, and the true reality is unknowable
Knowledge: Genus: A mental construct; Differentia: Grasps an aspect of reality

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Laissez-Faire: see: Free Market
Language: Genus: A system of symbols; Differentia: Each symbol, or word, refers to a concept; Link: Article
Law: Genus: A rule; Differentia: Pre-defined, specifying the permissible actions of men; Link: Article
Law of Excluded Middle: Genus: Logical axiom; Differentia: A proposition is either true or false, but cannot be both or neither.
Learning: Genus: A mental process; Differentia: Acquiring knowledge through instruction or study
Liberal: Genus: A political belief system, or a person who accepts the system; Differentia: To believe that the initiation of force should not be permitted in any aspect of life; Comment: This definition above is the true, original definition of the term. In America the term has been changed to mean the opposite, including the left-wing and other socialists.
Libertarians: Genus: People with a particular political system of beliefs; Differentia: They believe that the initiation of force should not be permitted in any aspect of life
Life: Genus: A process; Differentia: Self-sustaining and self-generated action
Logic: Genus: An art or process; Differentia: Removing or preventing contradictions in one's thoughts or ideas; Link: Article
Love: Genus: Emotion; Differentia: Based on a positive value-judgment, it is positive and often intense

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Malevolent Universe Premise: Genus: View of the world; Differentia: The premise that the universe is somehow out to get you or is unfit for human life.; Comment: According to this premise, our very survival is a desperate, unhappy fight against insurmountable odds.
Man: Genus: An animal; Differentia: One possessing a rational faculty; Comment: In the context of philosophy, man refers to a human being, regardless of gender.
Market Value: Genus: Value; Differentia: Defined through a market process, it is the price at which buyers and sellers agree to trade
Materialism: Genus: Ethical theory; Differentia: Values consist only of material goods
Mathematics: Genus: Science; Differentia: The relationship and properties of quantities, through the use of numbers
Matter: Genus: Entity; Differentia: Takes up space and physically exists
Mental Entity: Genus: Entity; Differentia: Existing in someone's mind.; Comment: This includes thoughts, ideas, and memories.; Link: Article
Mental Integration: Genus: Mental process; Differentia: Taking isolated ideas and consolidating them into a new unified whole; Link: Article
Meritocracy: Genus: Type of government / anti-concept; Differentia: Those with the most ability rule; Comment: The only way to determine the most able would be through a free market which is not possible in politics.
Metaphysically Given: Genus: Attribute of existents; Differentia: Exists as it is independent of man; natural phenomenon; Comment: The Metaphysically Given is not true or false, but is the standard of judging true or false.
Metaphysical Realism: Genus: Metaphysical belief; Differentia: That the world around us exists and is independent of our thoughts or feelings
Metaphysics: Genus: Branch of philosophy; Differentia: Dealing with existence and the nature of the universe; Link: Article
Mill, John Stuart: Genus: Philosopher and Economist; Differentia: Exponent of Utilitarianism
Minority Rights: Genus: Collective rights; Differentia: Applicable to minorities
Miracle: Genus: Event; Differentia: Caused by supernatural forces which supposedly contradict causality; Link: Article
Mixed Economy: Genus: Economy; Differentia: Part free market and part socialist; Link: Article
Monopoly: Genus: Political privilege; Differentia: Government forcibly prohibits competition; Comment: Using monopoly to mean "Dominant in market share" is an anti-concept which evades the difference between economic power and political power.; Link: Article
Morality: Genus: Code of action; Differentia: Defines how man should live his life; Link: Article
Motion: Genus: Change of identity; Differentia: Change in something's position
Mysticism: Genus: Metaphysical system; Differentia: Claims that there are realities other than that which we perceive; Comment: All mysticism is arbitrary.; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

National Rights: Genus: Collective rights; Differentia: Applied to nations
Natural Theology: Genus: Method of studying God; Differentia: Through reason alone; Comment: As opposed to Revealed Theology
Naturalism: Genus: Esthetic category; Differentia: Subject and style should imitate reality precisely
Nature: see: Existence
Necessity: Genus: Thing; Differentia: Required to achieve some specific end
Needs: Genus: Requirements; Differentia: For survival
Nihilism (1): Genus: Skepticism; Differentia: The denial of all existence
Nihilism (2): Genus: View on meaning and value; Differentia: Meaning and value do not exist; Comment: This view assumes that meaning and value must be Metaphysical, when they are in fact Epistemological -- i.e. meaning and value are not physical, they are mental entities.
Nominalism: Genus: Epistemological and Metaphysical theory; Differentia: Various objects labeled by the same term have nothing in common but their name; Comment: This denies the validity of concepts
Non-Existence: Genus: Conceptual tool; Differentia: Refers to the lack of a particular things existence; Link: Article
Non-Objective Law: Genus: Law; Differentia: Characterized by lack of definition or the inability to be applied consistently
Non-value: Genus: Goal; Differentia: That is not desired or useful
Number: Genus: Concept; Differentia: Quantity of units

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Objective Law: Genus: Law; Differentia: Characterized by a clear definition or the ability to be applied consistently
Objective Theory of Value: Genus: Theory of the source of values; Differentia: Values are derived from an evaluation of the facts of reality based on a standard of value
Objectivity: Genus: Act; Differentia: Referencing reality; Link: Article
Occam’s Razor: Genus: General rule; Differentia: The fewer assumptions that a theory makes, the better it is.; Comment: To deny this rule is to state that adding any number of unnecessary assumptions to a theory does not impact its plausibility. For example, consider these two theories: 1) The sum of the three interior angles of a triangle equal 180 degrees; 2) The sum of the three interior angles of a right triangle equal 180 degrees. Occam’s Razor suggests that 1) is a more useful, precise, and correct theory, because it makes the same assertion with fewer assumptions.
Omnipotent: Genus: Measurement of ability; Differentia: Having unlimited power or all-powerful; Comment: This is a logically impossible attribute as shown by the following example: Given that X is omnipotent, can X create a rock that X can not lift? Whether yes or no, there is something not within X’s power, and thus X is not omnipotent.; Link: Article
Ontology: Genus: Branch of Metaphysics; Differentia: Dealing with the nature of being and existence; Comment: For example: studying the fact that all existents have identity
Open Minded: Genus: Mentality; Differentia: Accepting of new ideas; Comment: Opposite of closed minded, but sometimes used incorrectly to mean openness any new idea no matter how wrong or useless
Original Sin: Genus: Religious belief; Differentia: That man by his nature is wicked an evil; Comment: Traces from the mythology of Adam and Eve and that whole apple nonsense.; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Pacifism: Genus: Political belief; Differentia: Using force is always wrong; Comment: This includes a renunciation of retaliatory force. It would only take 1 thug to destroy a society of pacifists. Open season on Pacifists!; Link: Article
Pain: Genus: Physical response to stimuli; Differentia: Unpleasant and negative
Parasite: Genus: Living entity; Differentia: Survives by feeding off another living entity
Perception: Genus: Faculty; Differentia: Automatic integration of sensory stimulus; Link: Article
Philosophy: Genus: A system of beliefs; Differentia: Regarding the fundamental nature of existence, man, and man's relationship to existence; Link: Article
Plato: Genus: Philosopher; Differentia: Believed that reality is how we perceive it; that reality consists of universals and we perceive it in the form of particulars; Comment: The ultimate collectivist, since we are all aspects of the same universal entity of man.
Platonic Realism: Genus: Metaphysical theory; Differentia: Abstractions exist as real entities in another dimension that we perceive as imperfect reflections in the form of particulars
Pleasure: Genus: Physical response to stimuli; Differentia: Enjoyable and positive
Political Power: Genus: Power to kill; Differentia: Gained physical force, often wielded by or using the government; Comment: The opposite of economic power
Politics: Genus: Branch of philosophy; Differentia: Applies ethics to a society of people and the proper rules governing that society; Link: Article
Pollution: Genus: Environmental condition; Differentia: Hazardous to man's health
Polylogism: Genus: Epistemological theory; Differentia: There is more than one kind of logic different logic applies for different people; Comment: This invalidates the whole notion of logic.
Possible: Genus: Condition of validity; Differentia: There is little evidence for and no evidence against
Pragmatism: Genus: Philosophical system; Differentia: There are no absolutes do whatever works and don't question anything; Comment: It is a contradiction to claim that there are no absolutes, because that would be an absolute
Pride: Genus: Virtue; Differentia: Respecting oneself; Link: Article
Primacy of Consciousness: Genus: Metaphysical theory; Differentia: Reality is a product of ones mind and that knowledge of reality is gained through introspection; Link: Article
Primacy of Existence: Genus: Metaphysical theory; Differentia: Reality exists independent of ones mind and that knowledge of reality is gained through perception; Link: Article
Principle: Genus: Abstraction; Differentia: Fundamental and wide-reaching
Prior Certainty of Consciousness: Genus: Epistemological assumption; Differentia: Assume the existence of your consciousness without relation to the outside world; Comment: A starting point from which people try to derive existence which is misbegotten because an awareness has to be aware of something in the first place.
Profit: Genus: A result of an action; Differentia: A net benefit of the difference between the total value gained and the value lost
Proof: Genus: Evidence or argument; Differentia: Gives compelling reason to accept an argument as true
Property Rights: see: Right, Property
Psychology: Genus: Science; Differentia: How people think
Public Interest: see: Common Good
Purpose: Genus: An attribute of an action; Differentia: Acting in order to achieve some result

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Rational Egoism: Genus: Ethical System; Differentia: One's life is his standard of value, and reason is the method of determining morality
Rationalism: Genus: Epistemological theory; Differentia: A priori reasoning is the means of gaining knowledge; Comment: Rationalism has many variants, but its main thrust is the denial of empirical evidence. It claims that knowledge is only gained through deductive reasoning, and denies the validity of induction and of sensory data.
Rationalization: Genus: Action; Differentia: Devising self-satisfying but incorrect reasons to explain something
Reason: Genus: Faculty; Differentia: Identifies and integrates perceptions; Link: Article
Reason as the only means of gaining knowledge: Genus: Rule of knowledge acquirement; Differentia: Only through experience and the integration of that experience through reason can one gain knowledge. Any notions, whims, or A Priori knowledge which is not founded in reality and reason is arbitrary and should not be considered knowledge.; Link: Article
Redistribution of Wealth: Genus: Theft; Differentia: Taking wealth from one person or group, and giving it to another person or group; Comment: Often done by a government. Usually not recognized as theft since it is legal.; Link: Article
Religion: Genus: A system of beliefs; Differentia: Based on explicit faith of the supernatural; Comment: Usually involving supernatural beings that one worships or fears.
Representative Government: Genus: Type of government; Differentia: Decisions of the government are made by a subset of the people who allegedly speak for the others
Retaliatory Force: Genus: Type of force; Differentia: Preventing or putting an end to an involuntary interaction by any means necessary
Retroactive Law: Genus: Law; Differentia: Although specified at a particular time, applies to a time period before that; Comment: A retroactive law nullifies the objectivity of the law, which is the purpose of having laws. It becomes nothing but a statement of the intent to punish people for actions that were legal when performed.
Revealed Theology: Genus: Method of studying God; Differentia: Through scriptural revelations; Comment: As opposed to Natural Theology
Rights: Genus: Recognition; Differentia: Of that which is necessary for a rational being to live in a society; Comment: Basically this entails the right to life, with the other rights being corollaries. The key to the first sentence is in a society. Food, shelter, clothing, etc., are not rights, but needs.; Link: Article
Right to Life: Genus: Right; Differentia: Freedom to promote one's life without the interference of others; Comment: Ultimately, the recognition that each individual is sovereign. Corollaries to this are the right to free speech, liberty, and property, among others.; Link: Article
Right, Free Speech: Genus: Right; Differentia: The recognition that speaking other than slander is not an initiation of force; Link: Article
Right, Liberty: Genus: Right; Differentia: The obligation of others to not initiate force on the individual; Link: Article
Right, Property: Genus: Right; Differentia: The ability to use in any way that which one produces or trades for; Link: Article
Rights of the Accused: Genus: Legal Right; Differentia: Restrictions on the use of force against an individual to ensure it is retaliatory force only; Comment: Examples include a right to a trial jury, the legal presumption of innocence, and a speedy trial
Rule of Law: Genus: A political system; Differentia: The use of force in society is determined by pre-defined, objective laws; Link: Article
Russell, Bertrand: Genus: Philosopher; Differentia: Famous for his works in seeming paradoxes, especially his own Russell's paradox

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Sacrifice: Genus: Exchange; Differentia: The voluntary exchange of a value for a non-value
Sanction of the Victim: Genus: Permission or approval; Differentia: Granted by a victim to the person or group that is attacking him
Scholasticism: Genus: Philosophical system; Differentia: Developed in the middle ages, combined Christianity with philosophical and deductive inquiry; Comment: Ask such useful and significant questions as "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?"
Science: Genus: Body of knowledge; Differentia: Gained through the study of the Law of Identity as it is applied to nature
Self: Genus: Identity; Differentia: Of a particular individual
Self-Defense: Genus: Defense or protection; Differentia: For oneself, against destructive force
Self-Esteem: Genus: Attitude about oneself; Differentia: The belief that one is competent and capable, and that one's life is worthy of living
Self-Evident: Genus: Judgment about the validity of a premise; Differentia: Obvious without need for proof or argument; Comment: Perception is self-evident. Concepts or ideas, though, only appear to be when one is very familiar with them.
Self-Interest: Genus: Ethical judgment; Differentia: Whether an action promotes one's life and goals
Selflessness: Genus: Ethical motivation; Differentia: No concern for one's self or life
Sensations: Genus: Physical responses; Differentia: Triggered by external events, they are the most basic sense data
Service: Genus: Exchange; Differentia: Providing work for compensation; Comment: Some have tried to corrupt this to mean work without compensation.
Similarity: Genus: Relationship; Differentia: Sharing attributes, but with different measurements
Skepticism: Genus: Belief; Differentia: All knowledge (everything) should be doubted
Socialism: Genus: Type of government; Differentia: Public ownership of the means of production; Link: Article
Socrates: Genus: Philosopher; Differentia: Popularized the question and answer method of inquiry, in which a hypothesis was analyzed to deduce consequences
Solipsism: Genus: View; Differentia: You are the only mind which exists and everything that you experience and sense is only part of your consciousness.; Comment: This is usually refuted through argument from analogy between your mind and those you see around you.
Soul-Body Dichotomy: Genus: Philosophical premise; Differentia: The spiritual and physical existence were different and opposed to one another; Comment: Also known as Mind-Body dichotomy. False dichotomy. The mind and body, or spiritual enlightenment and physical survival, are compatible and mutually supporting. To live, man must use his mind. To gain knowledge is to gain knowledge about reality.
Sound Argument: Genus: Valid argument; Differentia: With a true premise
Space: Genus: A relational concept; Differentia: Refers to the area between two objects that have different positions
Standard of Value: Genus: Ethical criteria; Differentia: The goal by which an action is judged to be moral or immoral
Statism: Genus: Political position; Differentia: The government should have unlimited power to fulfill its goals
Stoicism: Genus: School of Philosophy / World View; Differentia: There is some natural (or divine) order to the universe and that man has a duty to act according to this order. It holds that only through reason and an indifference to pleasure and pain can one understand this order and thus know how to act.
Stolen Concept Fallacy: Genus: Use of a concept; Differentia: Undermine the concept itself by attacking the roots by which it depends; Comment: An example is the attempt to "prove that logic is not sound". Proof is a concept derived from logic. Without logic, there can be no proof.
Stylization: Genus: Esthetic component; Differentia: To represent in essential characteristics
Subjective Theory of Value: Genus: Theory of the source of values; Differentia: Values are based on the will of the valuer, without relation to the facts of reality
Subjectivism: Genus: Metaphysical and Epistemological theory; Differentia: Reality is generated or controlled by a conscious mind; Comment: Subjectivism equates Metaphysics with Epistemology. The world is a figment of your imagination.
Supernaturalism: Genus: Metaphysical theory; Differentia: Another kind of existence is out there, interacts with our world, and is not limited by the Law of Identity

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Tabula Rasa: Genus: A biological and epistemological theory; Differentia: Man's mind, when first born, contains no knowledge, and must act in order to acquire it
Taxation: Genus: Theft; Differentia: Legal government confiscation of property; Link: Article
Teleology: Genus: Attribute of a philosophical system; Differentia: System attempts to explain a series of events in terms of goals or purposes; Comment: Usually attempts to explain natural phenomena in terms of design.
Theism: Genus: Belief; Differentia: In supernatural beings called gods that control reality
Theocracy: Genus: Political system; Differentia: A particular religious group is the government, and acts to promote their religion
Time: Genus: A relational concept; Differentia: Between two events, measured in the duration of an action; Comment: A year is one revolution of the earth around the sun.
Transcendentalism: Genus: Epistemological system; Differentia: Ignoring or discounting empirical knowledge for a priori knowledge
Tribalism: Genus: Collectivism; Differentia: The society is a subset of all of the people; Comment: In this view, there is more than one collective group. Each group then interacts with one another. Individuals are still considered generic, unimportant building blocks.
True: Genus: Identification of a proposition; Differentia: Corresponding to reality
Truth: Genus: Identification; Differentia: The non-contradictory identification of reality

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Ultimate Value: Genus: A value; Differentia: Source of all other values; Comment: To value something, you have to value it for the effect it will have. But you have to value that effect as well. This means that each value requires a higher level value to which you are ultimately aiming. This is your ultimate value. Life is that ultimate value.
Union: Genus: A group of employees; Differentia: Organized ostensibly to negotiate collectively with employers such items as job definitions, compensation, hours worked, etc.; Comment: In practice it usually involves coercion of employers, union members, and non-union employees through violence and intimidation.
Universe: Genus: A sum of existents; Differentia: The total sum of everything that exists
Utilitarianism: Genus: Ethical system; Differentia: Value is measured as "utility", with the standard of value for everyone as the maximization of overall utility for the group.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Valid Argument: Genus: Deductive Argument; Differentia: Containing a premise which necessitates the conclusion; Comment: Neither the premise nor the conclusion have to be true for an argument to be valid.
An example of an untrue valid argument is: "All cows have five legs, and each cow leg has one hoof; therefore all cows have 5 hoofs." If the premise were true, so would be the conclusion. A valid argument with true premises is called a sound argument.
Value: Genus: Goal; Differentia: Which one acts to gain or keep; Link: Article
Virtue: Genus: Moral Habit; Differentia: Through which a value is achieved; Link: Article
Volition: Genus: Mental Faculty; Differentia: The ability and need to focus; Link: Article

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Welfare State: Genus: Political system; Differentia: Characterized by the redistribution of wealth; Link: Article
Whim: Genus: Notion / Idea; Differentia: Sudden and arbitrary and not checked against reason

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z