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| Aristotelianism- | A philosophy originated by the Greek thinker Aristotle (384-322 BC), who stressed that virtue was a mean or middle way between opposing extremes. He classified everything in a 'ladder of nature' with inanimate matter at the bottom, and humans at the top. |
| Cynicism- | Originated by the Greek philosopher Diogenes (about 400-325 BC), who advocated a simple, self sufficient life as the best way of achieving happiness. His scorn for mankind gave rise to the present meaning of cynicism. |
| Dialectic- | Method of discovering the truth by proceeding from an assertion, to a denial, or antithesis, and reconciling the two through a synthesis, which in turn becomes a new thesis. For instance, Mankind is basically Bad; Mankind is basically good therefore, Mankind is both good and bad |
| Empiricism- | Seventeenth Century British philosophy that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience, by observing and experimenting. |
| Existentialism- | Assumes that there are no absolute values outside of Man himself (nothing exists except what has been verified to exit by Man), emphasizes the freedom of humans to make choices, and take responsibility for their choices. |
| Humanism- | Renaisance philosophy, which rejects all belief in forms of the supernatural |
| Idealism- | Doctrine that matter is an illusion and that the only reality is that which exists mentally. |
| Logical Positivism- | School of 20th century thinking which tried to base knowledge on sense-experience: that is, observations governed by scientific principles. |
| Marxism- | Nineteenth Century philosophy, sometimes called Dialectical Materialism, which interprets history as a struggle between opposing economic forces. The ultimate result of this struggle is the emergence of a classless society: Communism. |
| Pragmatism- | Nineteenth Century American doctrine that the meaning or value of an idea lies only in its practical consequence, or its 'bearing upon the conduct of life'. |
| Predestination- | Doctrine that the events of everyones life are determined beforehand by God, and that free will is an illusion. |
| Rationalism- | Seventeenth Century European philosophy that reason is the only true source of knowledge. The opposite of empiricism |
| Scepticism- | Greek doctrine that everything is open to doubt, except for the working of the human mind. |
| Stoicism- | Philosophy that Virtue-not honour, or family or possesions- is the only worthy aim in life, and that a virtuous man can achieve happiness in his life, no matter how advers his circumstances. |
| Transcendentalism- | Nineteenth Century doctrine that philosophy must extend beyond the limits of experience. |
| Utilitarianism- | The belief that good comes from creating the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. |