Terms and Definitions Worksheet - Essay Example

of Phoenix Material Terms and Definitions Worksheet Write brief s for each of the terms below. If you use an outside source to define them, include the citation for the source. All definitions have been sourced from WordNet (WordNet, 2006)Scientific methodScientific method is the use of scientific principles to carry out studies, observation and experiments to find out the behavior of living and non living things. Scientific principles refer to established scientific rules regarding living and non living things.

Environmental scienceIt is the study of how different entities such as chemical, physical and biological, interact with the environment. It also refers to the quantitative study of the effects that man and his activities have on an environment.AnthropocentrismThis is a type of belief in which human beings are regarded as being most important and that all natural resources are meant for their use.BiocentrismIn this type belief that all living things have values and rights that are given by nature and that nature values diversity of all types of living species.

DualismThe branch of philosophy in which philosophers believed that there are two types of objects in the world: physical and mental.EcocentrismThe branch of philosophy in which the ecosphere - the home sphere and not an individual thing, is the source of support for all living and non-living things.EcologyThis is the study of how living beings interact with each other and their environment.EcophilosophyThis is the philosophy that related to the ecological equilibrium and harmony. It would relate to not only how living things relate to the environment but also allows different priorities to be set.

EthicsHedonismIn this type of belief, pleasure and its pursuit is more important than anything else. It is also assumed that anything that gives pleasure is ethical and has its own value.HolismIn this belief, nature is regarded as an integrated system and not as a collection of individual items both living on non-living. It believes that diversity is important for nature and the environment to survive.IndividualismIn this system, in a society, importance is given for in individual. So an individuals rights, free of expression and action are given importance.

MaterialismThe branch of philosophy that speaks of mans excessive importance to material wealth. In this belief, all other ethics and behavior take a low priority and man and the society is interested only money and wealth and other things that money can buy.MetaphysicalThis is the branch of philosophy that deals with items out of the reach of the five physical senses. It would attempt to explain the nature of forces that cannot be seen or felt and that are outside the natural world.MinimalismThe branch of science and art that believes in using the least resources possible.

When referred to a way of life, it can mean the life of a holy man who would use the least possible resources.MonismThe branch of philosophy that suggests that there is only one type of matter whether physical or mental and this differs from the dualism concept that believes there are two types.Ethical extensionismThe concept of philosophy that believes in extending a moral standing to all living things including plants and animals. While the traditional concept is that murder of human beings is wrong, in this branch, even killing of cats, dogs and other living things is considered as immoral.

PluralismThe practice of philosophy in which there is respect for diversity of religion, race, ethnicity, social and culture background. In this type, people from different races or religions and languages are encouraged to participate.NaturalismIn this philosophy, all phenomena and occurrence are explained as due to natural laws and causes. It is assumed that everything operates in the universe as per the laws defined by nature, there is nothing such as miracles, and all occurrences can be examined with scientific studies.

NormativeThese refer to the ideals, culture and rules that a society adopts for living and over a period, these standards become accepted as a way of living.PragmaticRelated to the utilitarian concept, it refers to the real value of an action or philosophy that can be put to daily use.RelativismThe belief that everything such as truth is not absolute but changes with time and per perceptions of different people. All beliefs, morals and behavior from history need to be judged as per the social standards of those times.

UtilitarianThe belief that an action is valued only by understanding how useful it is. It refers to more the practical use of ideas, objects and inventions rather than a theosophical expectation of what a thing would be.ReferencesWordNet. 2006. A lexical database for the English language. Retrieved 17 October 2008 from http://wordnet.princeton.edu/