absolute a concept or truth that is unchangeable (i.e., is not modifiable by such factors as culture, personal philosophy, or circumstances); used as an antithesis of relativism.
adiaphorous ethically neurtral; that which is inherently neither good nor bad.
antinomianism an ethical system holding that the moral law is of no consequence under the Gospel dispensation; literally, without law.
antithesis opposition or contrast, as between right and wrong; in Hegelian philosophy, the apparently contradictory proposition of a thesis.
antithetical a process of reasoning that accepts the concept of antithesis (i.e., that if a given thesis is true, its opposite is false).
arbitrary subject to individul judgment without normative guidelines.
behavior the manner of behaving or acting, especially the manner in which one acts or reacts as a result of attitudes, values, and world-view.
Christocentric having as the focal point the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ or the doctrines derived from Him.
contextualism (as in contextual approach) a system by which one attempts to determine right and wrong by analysis of the context (cf. situationism).
determinism the belief that human actions are not a matter of free will but are determined by genetic or chemical makeup.
dialectic the system of thought proposed by the philosopher Hegel in which a gradual change or resolution develops between a given thesis and its antithesis producing a synthesis between the two. The resultant synthesis in time becomes established as its own thesis and the process continues.
dichotomy division into to two separate parts which are usually perceived to be mutually exclusive of each other.
directive a rule or principle that is given for the purpose of directing or instructing.
egocentric regarding self as the center of all things and relating all thoughts and actions to the self and self-interest.
ethics 1. a system of moral principles or the rules of conduct recognized by a particular class of human actions (as Christian ethics). 2. that branch of philosophy dealing with values which relate to human conduct, especially regarding the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness or badness of the motives for and ends of those actions.
existentialism a modern philosophical theory that holds that man has absolute freedom of choice but that there are no rational criteria to serve as a basis for choice; the theory that teaches that the universe is totally absurd and void of any rational meaning.
fideism the doctrine that things, beliefs, attitudes, etc. may be accepted on faith alone without regard for intellectual or objective content.
form the structure, pattern, organization, or essential nature of anything.
humanism a system of philosophy that takes human interests and values to be of primary importance.
imperative a command; an obligatory statement or principle.
legalism 1. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works or through the strict adherence to laws or prescriptions, especially to the letter rather than to the spirit of the law. 2. the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws or commands.
means the agency, instrument, or method used to attain a given end.
morals principles or habits with respect to right and wrong.
new morality 1. the doctrine that determines right and wrong situationally, usually by means of a strong egocentric, utilitarian, or existential basis. 2. that system of morality espoused by Jospeh Fletcher in his book Situation Ethics.
norm a standard, model, or pattern (from the Latin norma, a carpenmters square).
objective 1. free from personal feelings or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased. 2. intent upon dealing with things external to the mind rather than with thoughts or feelings. 3. of or pertaining to that which can be known; existing independent of thought or observer as part of reality.
pantheism the belief that God and nature are identical, the universe being an extension of Gods essence rather than His creation: it involves the denial of Gods personality.
philosophy the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
Platonism 1. the philosophy of Plato and his followers. 2. the doctrine that divides spirit and matter into a strict dichotomy, insisting that the two are mutually exclusive.
postulate someting that is assumed without proof; a principle or idea that is accepted simply as the basis for reasoning without substantial evidence that the principle or idea is itself true.
pragmatism a system of thought that makes the practical consequences of a belief the sole test of truth.
presupposition a belief that is assumed before the next step in logic is developed: it is a belief that serves as an antecedent condition in the logical process.
principle 1. an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct. 2. a fundamental, primary, or general law of truth from which other truths are derived.
relative that which is considered in relation to something else; depending for significance or validity upon something else; not absolute.
rule a principle or regulation governing conduct or action; a law.
rules approach the approach to ethics and morality that says one must determine right and wrong from divinely given ethical directives.
situationism (as in situation ethics) that system of ethics which teaches that right and wrong are always relative and are to be determined from a given situation.
soteriology the doctrine of salvation or the study thereof.
subjective 1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinker (subject) rather than to the thought (object). 2. relating to conditions of the mind rather than through objective experiences or knowledge.
teleological approach an approach to ethics and morality that says one must determine right and wrong on the basis of expected results of ones actions.
theocentric having God as the focal point of thoughts, interests, and feelings.
thesis a proposition stated for consideration, especially one that is to be proved against an objection (antithesis).
utilitarianism the ethical system that says right conduct is based on utility, and that one should act in such a way as to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
value any object or quality that is desirable as a means or an end in itself.
value judgment an estimate, usually subjective, of the worth, quality, goodness, badness, etc. of something or someone.
world-view ones basic view of the world, life, etc. which consequently determines ones values, attitudes, and behavior.
Copyright © 1983 & 2005 by Oswin Craton. All rights reserved.