Philosophy Vocabulary Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on essential philosophy terms: ethics, logic, metaphysics, epistemology and reasoning. B1–B2 level.
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Philosophy Vocabulary — FAQ
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that studies right and wrong, moral duty and how people ought to act. Aesthetics studies the nature of beauty, art and taste. Ethics asks 'what is good conduct?' while aesthetics asks 'what is beautiful or valuable in art?'
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge: what it is, how we acquire it, and how we can justify our beliefs. It asks questions such as 'What can we know?' and 'What is the difference between belief and knowledge?'
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that investigates the fundamental nature of reality and existence. It asks questions about being, time, cause and effect, and what kinds of things really exist. It deals with issues that go beyond the physical sciences.
Deductive reasoning moves from general principles to a specific, logically certain conclusion: if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion that is probable but not guaranteed.
A premise is a statement assumed or accepted as true that serves as the basis for an argument. An argument usually has one or more premises leading to a conclusion. If the premises are true and the reasoning valid, the conclusion follows logically.
A logical fallacy is a flaw or error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or weak, even if it may seem convincing. Common examples include attacking the person instead of their argument, or assuming that because one event followed another, the first caused the second.
A syllogism is a form of deductive argument consisting of two premises and a conclusion. A classic example is: 'All humans are mortal; Socrates is a human; therefore Socrates is mortal.' The conclusion follows necessarily if both premises are true.
A paradox is a statement or situation that appears self-contradictory or absurd but may nevertheless reveal a truth. Philosophers study paradoxes because resolving them often clarifies our understanding of logic, language or reality.
Empiricism holds that knowledge comes mainly from sensory experience and observation of the world. Rationalism holds that reason and innate ideas are the primary source of knowledge. The debate between them has shaped much of Western philosophy.
An argument is valid if its conclusion follows logically from its premises, regardless of whether those premises are true. An argument is sound if it is valid and all its premises are actually true. Every sound argument is valid, but not every valid argument is sound.