rhetorical
[adjective]
connected with the art of writing or speaking in an effective or persuasive way
Ex:
Relational Adjectives - Adjectives of Philosophy
These adjectives help us express and discuss the complex concepts, theories, and perspectives within the field of philosophy.
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ontological
[adjective]
related to the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of being or existence
Ex:
The
ontological
argument
for
the
existence
of
God
posits
that
God
's
existence
is
necessary
by
definition
.
existential
[adjective]
related to the philosophical movement that focuses on individual existence, freedom, and choice, often emphasizing the absurdity or meaninglessness of life
Ex:
The
philosopher
Nietzsche
is
often
associated
with
existential
themes
,
particularly
his
concept
of
the
"
will
to
power
"
and
the
idea
of
creating
one
's
own
values
.
philosophical
[adjective]
relating to the study or discipline of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language, often involving critical reasoning and analysis
Ex:
The
philosopher
's
work
explored
the
ethical
implications
of
artificial intelligence
from
a
philosophical
standpoint
.
aristotelian
[adjective]
related to the philosophical or scientific principles, methods, or teachings associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle
Ex:
She
studied
Aristotelian
metaphysics
in
her
philosophy
course
.
socratic
[adjective]
related to the teaching or method of questioning used by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates
Ex:
The
Socratic
approach
to
learning
encourages
active
engagement
and
reflection
rather than
passive
acceptance
of
information
.
pluralistic
[adjective]
relating to the view or belief that reality, knowledge, or morality is inherently diverse or composed of multiple elements, perspectives, or truths
Ex:
The
philosopher
argued
for
a
pluralistic
understanding
of
truth
,
recognizing
that
different
perspectives
may
reveal
different
aspects
of
reality
.
metaphysical
[adjective]
related to the branch of philosophy that deals with the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and being, often exploring abstract concepts beyond the physical world
Ex:
Eastern
philosophies
often
incorporate
metaphysical
concepts
such as
karma
and
reincarnation
.
epistemological
[adjective]
related to the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature, scope, and limits of knowledge, as well as the ways in which knowledge is acquired and justified
Ex:
The
philosopher
's
work
addresses
epistemological
questions
about
the
nature
of
belief
and
justification
.
materialistic
[adjective]
related to the belief that only physical matter exists, rejecting the presence of spiritual or immaterial elements in reality
Ex:
The
philosopher
argued
against
materialistic
reductionism
,
advocating
for
a
more
holistic
understanding
of
human
experience
.
dialectical
[adjective]
referring to the method of argumentation or discourse that involves the exchange of opposing ideas or viewpoints in order to reach a deeper understanding or resolution
Ex:
In
dialectical
discussions
,
participants
strive
to
reconcile
contradictions
and
reach
a
higher
level
of
understanding
.
teleological
[adjective]
referring to the belief that things in nature are best understood in terms of their purpose or end goal, suggesting a deliberate design or direction
Ex:
In
biology
,
teleological
explanations
are
often
criticized
for
anthropomorphizing
natural processes
.
absolutist
[adjective]
advocating for strong, uncompromising beliefs or principles, often rejecting any form of relativism or compromise
Ex:
The
absolutist
interpretation
of
the
law
holds
that
it
should
be
applied
uniformly
and
without
exception
.
nihilistic
[adjective]
relating to the belief that life lacks inherent meaning or value, often resulting in existential despair or doubt towards conventional beliefs and moral systems
Ex:
The
existentialist philosopher
Nietzsche
is
often
associated
with
nihilistic
themes
,
such as
the
"
death
of
God
"
and
the
"
will
to
power
.
"
transcendental
[adjective]
relating to or characteristic of a philosophy that emphasizes intuition and the spiritual over empirical or material experience
Ex:
Kant
's
notion
of
the
"
transcendental
"
concerns
the
conditions
that
make
knowledge
possible
.
deterministic
[adjective]
referring to the belief or theory that all events, including human actions, are determined by preceding causes and conditions, leaving no room for free will or indeterminacy
Ex:
The
deterministic
nature
of
classical
physics
was
challenged
by
the
advent
of
quantum mechanics
,
which
introduced
elements
of
indeterminacy
at
the
subatomic
level
.
phenomenological
[adjective]
relating to the study or analysis of individual subjective experiences and the meaning attributed to them
Ex:
In
phenomenological
research
,
participants
are
often
asked
to
describe
their
subjective
experiences
in detail
.