Philosophical References Vocabulary

feigning ignorance to expose others' lack of knowledge

“His 'I don't understand, explain it to me' was pure Socratic irony.”

Origin: Socrates' method of pretending not to know to draw out truth

a perfect abstract form of which reality is an imperfect copy

“He pursued the Platonic ideal of justice, never finding it in practice.”

Origin: Plato's theory of Forms—perfect templates in a higher realm

systematic skepticism to find certain knowledge

“Apply Cartesian doubt: what can you know for certain?”

Origin: Descartes' method of doubting everything to find what's indubitable

the simplest explanation is usually correct

“Occam's razor suggests the most straightforward interpretation.”

Origin: William of Ockham's principle: don't multiply entities unnecessarily

act only according to rules you could will as universal law

“Kant's categorical imperative: would you want everyone to do this?”

Origin: Kant's moral principle from Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals

the drive to assert and enhance oneself

“His ambition was pure will to power.”

Origin: Nietzsche's concept of the fundamental drive in human nature

accepting something beyond rational proof

“Joining the startup required a leap of faith.”

Origin: Kierkegaard on belief transcending objective certainty

thesis, antithesis, synthesis—ideas evolving through opposition

“Their debate followed a Hegelian dialectic, producing a new synthesis.”

Origin: Hegel's model of historical and logical development

meaning depends on context and use, not abstract definitions

“Different disciplines play different language games.”

Origin: Wittgenstein's later philosophy on meaning as use

designing rules without knowing your place in society

“Behind a veil of ignorance, would you choose this policy?”

Origin: John Rawls' thought experiment in A Theory of Justice