📚 A-Level CAIE Philosophy: Essential Vocabulary & Mnemonic Guide | A-Level CAIE 哲学:核心术语速记指南
Mastering the vocabulary of A-Level CAIE Philosophy is the key to unlocking high marks. This guide presents the most important terms from Epistemology, Ethics, Metaphysics, and more, broken down into simple chunks with effective memory tricks. Each section pairs a concise English definition with a Chinese explanation, followed by mnemonic devices that turn abstract concepts into vivid images or patterns. Whether you are revising for Paper 1 or Paper 2, these strategies will help you recall precise terminology under exam pressure.
掌握 A-Level CAIE 哲学的词汇是获得高分的关键。本指南将知识论、伦理学、形而上学等学科最重要的术语分解成简单易记的小块,并配上有效的记忆技巧。每个章节都以简洁的英文定义搭配中文解释,随后通过助记法将抽象概念转化为生动的画面或模式。无论你在复习卷 1 还是卷 2,这些策略都将帮助你在考试压力下准确地回忆术语。
1. Epistemology: Knowledge & Justification | 知识论:知识与证成
Knowledge as Justified True Belief (JTB) – a person knows that P if and only if P is true, the person believes that P, and the person is justified in believing that P. The classic tripartite definition.
知识作为经证成的真信念(JTB) – 一个人知道 P,当且仅当 P 为真,此人相信 P,且此人有理由证成其信念。经典的三重定义。
Mnemonic: ‘JTB = Just Think Back.’ Imagine a detective who always says ‘Just Think Back’ before making a conclusion: she checks Truth (T), she holds a Belief (B), and she needs Justification (J). Link the initials to ‘Just Think Back’: J(ustification), T(ruth), B(elief).
助记法:’JTB = 记 真 信’。 想象一位侦探在下结论前总说’记真信’:她核实真相(真),她持有信念(信),她需要证成(记/证成)。将首字母与’记真信’关联:记(证成)、真(Truth)、信(Belief)。
Gettier cases – scenarios where a person has a justified true belief but still seems to lack knowledge due to some element of luck or a false lemma.
盖梯尔案例 – 一个人拥有经证成的真信念,但由于运气或虚假前提因素,似乎仍不具备知识的场景。
Mnemonic: ‘Gettier = Get-there by luck.’ Think of a basketball player shooting blindfolded – the ball gets in (true), he believed it would (belief), his coach told him he had a good form (justification), but he was lucky. ‘Get-there’ sounds like Gettier.
助记法:’Gettier = 盖好运’。 想象一个蒙眼投篮的人——球进了(真),他相信会进(信念),教练说他姿势很好(证成),但他纯粹靠运气。’盖梯尔’谐音’盖好运’。
2. The Limits of Knowledge: Perception & Skepticism | 知识的界限:知觉与怀疑论
Direct realism – the view that we perceive the external world directly as it is, without intermediaries. Our senses give us immediate access to objects.
直接实在论 – 我们直接感知外部世界本来的样子,无需中介。我们的感官让我们直接触及对象。
Mnemonic: ‘DR = Door Real.’ Picture opening a door (Direct) and seeing reality (Real) exactly as it stands – no window, no screen. The door is wide open.
助记法:’DR = 开门见真’。 想象打开一扇门(Direct),看见真实(Real)本身——没有窗户,没有屏幕。门完全敞开。
Indirect realism – the view that we perceive the external world via mental representations, or sense-data; we are only directly aware of these data, not the objects themselves.
间接实在论 – 我们通过心理表征或感觉材料间接感知外部世界;我们只能直接意识这些材料,而非对象本身。
Mnemonic: ‘IR = Inner Representation.’ Think of a cinema: you see the movie (representation) on screen, but you are not directly watching the actors. The film projector is your mind.
助记法:’IR = 内表征’。 想象电影院:你在屏幕上看到电影(表征),但你没有直接看到演员。放映机就是你的心灵。
Cartesian skepticism – the radical doubt introduced by Descartes, especially the evil demon argument, questioning whether we can know anything about the external world.
笛卡尔式怀疑论 – 笛卡尔引入的彻底怀疑,尤其是恶魔论证,质疑我们是否能认识任何关于外部世界的知识。
Mnemonic: ‘Descartes = Des-cart all.’ Visualize a shopping cart (cart) being emptied – Descartes throws everything out until only ‘I think’ remains. Des-cart means to remove all beliefs.
助记法:’笛卡尔 = 笛-车 全扔’。 想象一辆购物车(cart)被清空——笛卡尔扔掉所有信念,直到只剩下’我思’。笛-车(Des-cart)即清除一切。
3. Metaphysics: Substance, Dualism & Materialism | 形而上学:实体、二元论与唯物主义
Substance dualism – the view, associated with Descartes, that the mind and body are two distinct substances: mental substance (thinking, non-extended) and physical substance (extended, non-thinking).
实体二元论 – 笛卡尔的观点,认为心灵与身体是两种不同的实体:心灵实体(思维,不广延)与物质实体(广延,不思考)。
Mnemonic: ‘Dualism = Two-alism.’ Think of a two-headed coin: one side is ‘M’ for Mind, the other is ‘B’ for Body. They are separate substances stuck together.
助记法:’二元论 = 两元论’。 想象一枚两面硬币:一面是’心'(Mind),另一面是’身'(Body)。它们是粘在一起的两种独立实体。
Type identity theory – the materialist view that mental states are identical to brain states; every type of mental state just is a type of physical state in the brain.
类型同一论 – 唯物主义观点,认为心理状态等同于大脑状态;每种心理状态类型都只是一种大脑物理状态类型。
Mnemonic: ‘Identity = ID card.’ Your ID card has a photo (mental state) and a chip (brain state); they are two sides of the same card. Every feeling has a matching brain pattern.
助记法:’同一 = 身份证’。 你的身份证有照片(心理状态)和芯片(脑状态);它们是同一张卡的两面。每种感受都有对应的大脑模式。
Property dualism – the view that there is only one substance (physical) but two kinds of properties: physical and mental, which are not reducible to physical properties.
属性二元论 – 实体只有一种(物理实体),但存在两种属性:物理属性与心理属性,且心理属性无法还原为物理属性。
Mnemonic: ‘Property Dualism = Two kinds of paint on one wall.’ The wall is physical, but it can have colour (physical) and beauty (mental) – two properties of the same thing.
助记法:’属性二元论 = 一面墙两种漆’。 墙是物理的,但它可以有颜色(物理属性)和美感(心理属性)——同一事物的两种属性。
4. Ethics: Normative Theories | 伦理学:规范理论
Utilitarianism – the consequentialist theory that actions are right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Key advocate: Bentham (hedonic calculus) and Mill (higher/lower pleasures).
功利主义 – 结果论理论,行为之正当在于它促进最大多数人的最大幸福。代表人物:边沁(快乐计算)和密尔(高级/低级快乐)。
Mnemonic: ‘Util = You-till.’ Imagine counting ‘you-till’ happiness meter until the total reaches the maximum. ‘You-till’ sounds like utilitarian.
助记法:’功利 = 共利’。 想象一个’共利’(共利)幸福量表,直到总量达到最大。功利主义者追求共同利益。
Kantian deontology – the duty-based theory that the moral worth of an action lies in its motive, done from duty, and that we must act only on maxims that can be universalised (the categorical imperative). Treat humanity always as an end, never merely as a means.
康德义务论 – 基于义务的理论,行为的道德价值在于其出自义务的动机,且我们必须只按照能够被普遍化的准则行动(定言命令)。始终将人作为目的,而绝不仅仅作为手段。
Mnemonic: ‘Kant = Can’t lie.’ Kant’s philosophy forbids lying even to a murderer at the door. ‘Can’t’ recalls the universality test: can I will this maxim to become a universal law without contradiction?
助记法:’康德 = 不可说谎’。 康德的哲学甚至禁止对门口凶手说谎。’不可’(Can’t)提醒普遍化检验:我能否意愿此准则成为一条普遍法则而不矛盾?
Virtue ethics – the character-based approach, inspired by Aristotle, focusing on virtues (e.g., courage, temperance) and phronesis (practical wisdom) so that one acts at the right time, in the right way, for the right reason. Eudaimonia = flourishing.
德性伦理学 – 基于品格的进路,源于亚里士多德,关注德性(如勇敢、节制)与明智(实践智慧),从而在适当的时间、以适当的方式、为适当的理由而行动。Eudaimonia = 繁荣幸福。
Mnemonic: ‘Virtue = We-chew slowly.’ Picture a wise person chewing food slowly and mindfully – that’s the golden mean between gulping and starving. Virtuous action is about balance.
助记法:’德性 = 细嚼慢咽’。 想象一个有智慧的人细嚼慢咽——那是介于狼吞虎咽和挨饿之间的中庸之道。有德行的行动关乎平衡。
5. Meta-ethics: The Meaning of Moral Language | 元伦理学:道德语言的意义
Cognitivism – the view that moral statements (e.g., ‘Murder is wrong’) express beliefs that can be true or false; they are truth-apt.
认知主义 – 道德陈述(如’谋杀是错误的’)表达的是可真可假的信念;它们是适真的。
Mnemonic: ‘Cognitivism = Know-ism.’ ‘Cogni’ comes from ‘knowing’. If you can know that something is wrong, then the statement has truth-value. Imagine a court judge declaring a verdict: guilty or not guilty.
助记法:’认知主义 = 知论’。 ‘Cogni’源于’认知、知道’。如果知道某事是错的,那么该陈述就有真值。想象法官宣判:有罪或无罪。
Non-cognitivism – the view that moral statements do not express beliefs but rather emotions (emotivism) or prescriptions (prescriptivism); they are not truth-apt.
非认知主义 – 道德陈述不表达信念,而是表达情感(情感主义)或规约(规约主义);它们不是适真的。
Mnemonic: ‘Non-cognitivism = No-facts-ism.’ Think of a cheerleader shouting ‘Boo!’ or ‘Hurray!’ – not stating facts. Emotivism: ‘Murder – boo!’
助记法:’非认知主义 = 无事实论’。 想象啦啦队员喊’嘘!’或’太棒了!’——不是在陈述事实。情感主义:’谋杀——嘘!’
Naturalism vs. non-naturalism – within cognitivism, naturalists say moral properties are natural properties (e.g., Mill equates good with pleasure); non-naturalists like Moore argue that ‘good’ is a simple, unanalysable, non-natural property (the open-question argument).
自然主义与非自然主义 – 在认知主义内部,自然主义者认为道德属性就是自然属性(如密尔将善等同于快乐);非自然主义者如摩尔论证’善’是简单的、不可分析的、非自然的属性(开放问题论证)。
Mnemonic: ‘Moore’s Open Question = Is good really pleasure?’ Memory trick: ask a child ‘Is having ice cream really just pleasure?’ – the question always remains open. Good cannot be defined by any natural property.
助记法:’摩尔的开放问题 = 善真的就是快乐吗?’ 记忆技巧:问一个孩子’吃冰淇淋真的就是快乐吗?’——这个问题永远是开放的。善不能用任何自然属性来定义。
6. Logic: Validity, Soundness & Fallacies | 逻辑:有效性、可靠性与谬误
Validity – an argument is valid if and only if the conclusion must be true if the premises are true. Validity concerns the structure, not the actual truth.
有效性 – 一个论证是有效的,当且仅当如果前提为真,则结论必然为真。有效性关乎结构,而非实际真值。
Mnemonic: ‘Valid = Valley bridge.’ Picture a bridge (argument form) that, if you enter the valley (premises true), forces you to exit at the waterfall (conclusion true). The bridge’s shape guarantees it.
助记法:’有效 = 过桥必达’。 想象一座桥(论证形式),如果你进入山谷(前提真),它必然将你引到瀑布(结论真)。桥的形状保证了这一点。
Soundness – a sound argument is a valid argument with all true premises. Consequently, the conclusion is definitely true.
可靠性 – 一个可靠的论证是有效的且所有前提都为真。因此,结论必然为真。
Mnemonic: ‘Sound = Sound Foundation.’ Think of a building: the foundation (premises) must be solid and true (not cracked) and the architecture (logic) valid. Only then is the whole structure sound.
助记法:’可靠 = 根基稳固’。 想象一栋建筑:地基(前提)必须坚固为真(无裂缝),架构(逻辑)有效。这样整栋建筑才是可靠的。
Common fallacies: ad hominem (attacking the person, not the argument), straw man (misrepresenting an opponent’s position), begging the question (circular reasoning).
常见谬误: 人身攻击(攻击人而非论证),稻草人(曲解对方立场),乞题(循环推理)。
Mnemonic for fallacies: ‘AHA! A Straw!’ Ad Hominem – ‘Aha! You’re stupid!’ Straw man – ‘That’s just a straw dummy, not my real argument.’ Begging the question – ‘It’s true because I say it’s true.’
谬误助记:’AHA! A Straw!’ 人身攻击——’啊哈!你真蠢!’ 稻草人——’那只是一个稻草人,不是我真正的论点。’ 乞题——’这是真的,因为我说这是真的。’
7. Philosophy of Mind: Intentionality & Consciousness | 心灵哲学:意向性与意识
Intentionality – the ‘aboutness’ of mental states: thoughts, beliefs, desires are directed at objects or states of affairs. A hallmark of the mental according to Brentano.
意向性 – 心理状态的’关于性’:思想、信念、欲望总是指向对象或事态。布伦塔诺认为这是心灵的标志。
Mnemonic: ‘Intentionality = In-tension toward something.’ Imagine an archer’s arrow (mental state) in tension, always aimed at a target (object). The mind is never aimless.
助记法:’意向性 = 箭头指向。’ 想象射手的箭(心理状态)蓄势待发,始终瞄着目标(对象)。心灵从无无的放矢。
Qualia – the subjective, qualitative aspects of conscious experience: what it is like to see red, taste coffee, or feel pain. The ‘what-it-is-likeness’.
感受质 – 意识经验的主观质性方面:看见红色、品尝咖啡或感受疼痛的’像什么样’。那种’如……之感’。
Mnemonic: ‘Qualia = Quality-ah!’ Think of a wine taster saying ‘Ah! such a rich quality.’ That unique inner taste no zombie could have is qualia.
助记法:’感受质 = 质-啊!’ 想象品酒师说’啊!多么丰富的质感。’ 那种僵尸无法拥有的独特内在味道就是感受质。
8. Religious Experience: Verification & Falsification | 宗教经验:证实与证伪
Verification principle – the logical positivist claim that a statement is meaningful only if it is analytically true or empirically verifiable. Religious language thus becomes meaningless.
证实原则 – 逻辑实证主义的主张,一个陈述只有在分析为真或可经验证实时才有意义。因此宗教语言成为无意义的。
Mnemonic: ‘Verify = Very Fire!’ Imagine shouting ‘Fire!’ in a theatre – you need sensory evidence (smoke, heat) to verify it. Without verification, the word is just noise. A.J. Ayer’s verification principle demands such evidence.
助记法:’证实 = 真火!’ 想象在剧院喊’着火啦!’——你需要感官证据(烟、热)来证实。没有证实,那话只是噪音。艾耶尔的证实原则要求这样的证据。
Falsification principle – Flew’s argument: a statement is meaningful only if there is some evidence that could count against it. Religious believers allow nothing to falsify their claims, so they die the ‘death by a thousand qualifications’.
证伪原则 – 弗卢的论证:一个陈述只有在存在某种可能反对它的证据时才有意义。宗教信徒不让任何东西证伪其主张,所以它们死于’千般限定之死’。
Mnemonic: ‘Falsify = False-if-I see?’ Ask: What would make you say your belief is false? If nothing would, the statement is unfalsifiable. Think of an invisible gardener who always adjusts the story.
助记法:’证伪 = 假如我看到什么可证其伪?’ 问:什么会使你承认你的信念为假?如果没有任何东西可以,该陈述就是不可证伪的。想想那个总在调整故事的隐形园丁。
9. Free Will and Determinism | 自由意志与决定论
Hard determinism – the view that all events, including human actions, are causally determined by prior states; therefore, free will is an illusion.
强决定论 – 所有事件,包括人类行为,都由在先状态因果地决定;因此,自由意志是幻象。
Mnemonic: ‘Hard = No choice.’ Visualise a train on rigid rails; it cannot deviate. Hard determinism says you are on fixed rails of cause and effect.
助记法:’强 = 无选择’。 想象一列在刚硬铁轨上的火车;它无法偏离。强决定论说你就在因果的固定轨道上。
Libertarianism (free will) – the view that we do have genuine free will, and determinism is false; some events (especially human choices) are uncaused or caused by the agent.
自由意志论 – 我们确实拥有真正的自由意志,决定论为假;一些事件(尤其是人类选择)是无因的,或由行动者自因。
Mnemonic: ‘Libertarian = Liberty!’ Picture the Statue of Liberty holding a torch of choice. The agent stands outside the causal chain and initiates new sequences.
助记法:’自由意志论 = 自由!’ 想象自由女神像手持选择之炬。行动者站在因果链之外,开始新的序列。
Compatibilism – free will and determinism are compatible. Free actions are those done voluntarily, without coercion, even if they are determined.
相容论 – 自由意志与决定论相容。自由行为指自愿为之、没有强制的行为,即便它们是被决定的。
Mnemonic: ‘Compati-BULL.’ Think of a bull in a field: it roams freely because no fence blocks it, yet its path is determined by hunger and instinct. The bull is both determined and free in the relevant sense.
助记法:’相容 = 相融之牛。’ 想象田野里的一头牛:它自由漫步,因为没有围栏阻挡,然而它的路径由饥饿和本能决定。这头牛既是被决定的,也是自由(相对于无强制)的。
10. Political Philosophy: Rights, Liberty & Justice | 政治哲学:权利、自由与正义
Negative liberty – freedom from interference by others; the absence of external constraints. Central to classical liberalism (e.g., Isaiah Berlin).
消极自由 – 免于他人干涉的自由;没有外部强制。古典自由主义的核心理念(如以赛亚·伯林)。
Mnemonic: ‘Negative = No interference.’ Draw a circle around a person with ‘Keep Out’ signs. That protected zone is negative liberty.
助记法:’消极 = 无人干涉。’ 在一个人的周围画一个圈,并标上’禁止入内’的标志。那个保护区就是消极自由。
Positive liberty – the freedom to be one’s own master; self-mastery, autonomy, and achieving one’s potential. Involves the capacity to act rationally.
积极自由 – 成为自己主人的自由;自主、自律、实现自身潜能。涉及理性行动的能力。
Mnemonic: ‘Positive = Power to.’ Visualise a person climbing a mountain, mastering obstacles to reach the peak (self-realisation).
助记法:’积极 = 有力量去做。’ 想象一个人爬山,征服障碍以达顶峰(自我实现)。
Social contract – the idea that the state’s authority derives from an implicit agreement among individuals to surrender some freedoms in exchange for security and order. Key thinkers: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau.
社会契约 – 国家权威源于个体间默示的协议,让渡部分自由以换取安全与秩序。主要思想家:霍布斯、洛克、卢梭。
Mnemonic: ‘Contract = Co-track.’ Imagine two paths converging into one guarded road. You agree to walk together (co-track) under certain rules, giving up the messy jungle route.
助记法:’契约 = 同轨。’ 想象两条小径合并成一条有人守卫的大路。你同意在规则下共走一轨,放弃混乱的丛林小路。
11. Aesthetics: Defining Art & Beauty | 美学:定义艺术与美
Significant form – Clive Bell’s theory that all genuine art evokes an ‘aesthetic emotion’ through its ‘significant form’: certain combinations of lines and colours, independent of representation.
有意形式 – 克莱夫·贝尔的理论,所有真正的艺术都通过其’有意形式’唤起’审美情感’:某些线与色的组合,独立于再现。
Mnemonic: ‘Bell = Beautiful bell shape.’ Imagine a bell-shaped abstract sculpture (significant form) that makes you feel moved without depicting anything. ‘Bell’ – the form rings a bell in your aesthetic soul.
助记法:’贝尔 = 钟形美。’ 想象一个钟形的抽象雕塑(有意形式),它未描绘任何东西却令你感动。’贝尔’——形式在你审美灵魂中敲响了钟。
Institutional theory – George Dickie’s view: something is an artwork if it is an artifact and has been conferred the status of art by the ‘artworld’ (galleries, critics, artists).
制度理论 – 乔治·迪奇的观点:某物若为人工制品且被’艺术界’(画廊、评论家、艺术家)授予艺术地位,则是艺术品。
Mnemonic: ‘Institutional = Art-world ID card.’ Picture a signed certificate hanging on a urinal (Duchamp’s Fountain). The artworld issues an ID card that makes it art.
助记法:’制度 = 艺术界身份证。’ 想象一份签名的证书挂在小便池上(杜尚的《泉》)。艺术界发放身份证,使之成为艺术。
12. Revision Techniques: How to Use This Guide | 复习技巧:如何使用本指南
Apply active recall: cover the English definition and try to write it out using only the Chinese prompt, then vice versa. Map each mnemonic image onto a mind palace room: for example, place the ‘Just Think Back’ detective in the Epistemology room, the ‘Two-headed coin’ in the Metaphysics room. Test yourself by drawing quick sketches of the images next to the terms. Remember: the vividness of the image is the key to rapid retrieval in the exam hall.
运用主动回忆:遮住英文定义,仅凭中文提示写出定义,然后反过来练习。将每个助记画面映射到记忆宫殿的房间:例如,把’记真信’侦探放在知识论房间,把’两面硬币’放在形而上学房间。通过在术语旁画速写草图来自测。记住:画面的生动性是考场快速提取的关键。
Published by TutorHao | Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022(同微信)
屏轩国际教育cambridge primary/secondary checkpoint, cat4, ukiset,ukcat,igcse,alevel,PAT,STEP,MAT, ibdp,ap,ssat,sat,sat2课程辅导,国外大学本科硕士研究生博士课程论文辅导Cancel reply