📚 KS3 AQA Philosophy: Quick Glossary Guide | KS3 AQA 哲学：词汇术语速记指南
Building a strong philosophy vocabulary is like gathering keys to unlock big ideas. In KS3 AQA Philosophy, you will meet terms that can seem tricky at first. This guide gives you clear definitions and clever memory tricks so you can remember them for good. Whether you are tackling arguments about right and wrong or puzzling over the mind, these terms will become your trusted toolkit.
建立扎实的哲学术语库，就像收集钥匙来打开大思想之门。在 KS3 AQA 哲学课程中，你会遇到起初看似棘手的术语。本指南为你提供清晰的定义和巧妙的记忆技巧，让你永久掌握它们。无论你是在探讨对与错的论证，还是在思考心灵之谜，这些术语都将成为你可靠的工具箱。
1. Philosophy – The Love of Wisdom | 哲学——爱智慧
The word ‘philosophy’ comes from the Greek ‘philo’ (love) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom). It literally means the love of wisdom. A philosopher does not just learn facts but asks fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason and language.
“哲学”一词源于希腊语“philo”（爱）和“sophia”（智慧），字面意思是爱智慧。哲学家不仅学习事实，还追问关于存在、知识、价值、理性和语言的根本问题。
Memory trick: Imagine a wise owl named Philo. Philo wears a tiny graduation cap and perches on a branch, constantly asking ‘Why?’ and ‘How do we know?’ This image links philosophy with curiosity and the love of deeper understanding.
记忆技巧：想象一只名叫菲洛的猫头鹰，头戴一顶小小的学士帽，蹲在树枝上，不停地问“为什么？”和“我们怎么知道？”。这个画面将哲学与好奇心和对深层理解的热爱联系起来。
2. Argument, Premise and Conclusion | 论证、前提与结论
In philosophy, an argument is not a shouting match. It is a set of statements where some (the premises) are offered to support another statement (the conclusion). The premises are your reasons, and the conclusion is what you are trying to prove.
在哲学中，论证不是争吵。它是一组陈述，其中一些陈述（前提）用来支持另一个陈述（结论）。前提是你的理由，结论是你试图证明的观点。
A classic example: Premise 1: All humans are mortal. Premise 2: Socrates is a human. Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal. Here the premises build a bridge to the conclusion.
经典例子：前提1：所有人都会死。前提2：苏格拉底是人。结论：因此，苏格拉底会死。这里，前提为结论搭建了一座桥梁。
Memory trick: Think of premises as the legs of a table and the conclusion as the tabletop. If the legs are strong, the top stays up. Also, the letter ‘P’ stands for ‘Premise’ and ‘Proof’, while ‘C’ stands for ‘Conclusion’.
记忆技巧：把前提想象成桌腿，结论是桌面。桌腿结实，桌面就稳。另外，字母“P”代表“Premise”（前提）和“Proof”（证明），而“C”代表“Conclusion”（结论）。
3. Validity and Soundness | 有效性与可靠性
An argument can be valid or invalid. A valid argument is one where, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. Validity is about logical structure, not actual truth. For example: If all cats are dogs (false) and Felix is a cat, then Felix is a dog. This argument is valid because the logic works, even though the premise is false.
一个论证可以是有效的或无效的。有效论证是指：如果前提为真，结论必然为真。有效性关乎逻辑结构，而非事实上的真假。比如：如果所有的猫都是狗（假），且菲利斯是一只猫，那么菲利斯是一只狗。该论证有效，因为逻辑成立，尽管前提为假。
A sound argument is a valid argument with all true premises. Soundness means the conclusion is both logically inescapable and actually true. So a sound argument guarantees a true conclusion.
可靠的论证是指有效且所有前提皆为真的论证。可靠性意味着结论在逻辑上必然成立且事实上为真。因此，可靠的论证能保证结论的真。
Memory trick: ‘Valid’ rhymes with ‘palace’. Imagine a logical palace with perfectly straight corridors – the structure works. ‘Sound’ reminds you of ‘sound mind’ – everything is solid and true. You can also remember that a sound argument is ‘valid + true premises’.
记忆技巧：“有效”（valid）与“宫殿”（palace）押韵。想象一座逻辑宫殿，走廊笔直——结构完美。“可靠”（sound）让你想到“心智健全”——一切都坚固真实。你也可以记住可靠论证 = 有效 + 真前提。
4. Rationalism vs Empiricism | 理性主义与经验主义
These two big theories explain where knowledge comes from. Rationalism says that reason and logic are the main source of knowledge. Some ideas are built into the mind from birth (innate ideas). Famous rationalists include Descartes, who said ‘I think, therefore I am’.
这两大理论解释知识的来源。理性主义认为，理性和逻辑是知识的主要来源，有些观念是生来就存在于头脑中的（天赋观念）。著名理性主义者包括笛卡尔，他说：“我思故我在。”
Empiricism argues that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience – what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell. John Locke described the mind at birth as a ‘blank slate’ (tabula rasa) that experience fills. Empiricists emphasise observation and evidence.
经验主义主张，知识主要来自感官经验——我们看到、听到、触摸到、尝到和闻到的一切。约翰·洛克把初生时的心灵描述为一块“白板”，经验在上面书写。经验主义者强调观察和证据。
Memory trick: Rationalism starts with ‘R’ for ‘reason’ and ‘thinking’. Empiricism starts with ‘E’ for ‘experience’ and ‘experiment’. Picture Descartes sitting in an armchair, deducing truths, while Locke walks around with a magnifying glass, touching things.
记忆技巧：理性主义以“R”开头，代表“理性”（reason）和“思考”；经验主义以“E”开头，代表“经验”（experience）和“实验”。想象笛卡尔坐在扶手椅上演绎真理，而洛克拿着放大镜四处走动、触摸事物。
| Rationalism | Empiricism |
|---|---|
| Knowledge from reason and innate ideas | Knowledge from sensory experience |
| Associated with Descartes, Plato | Associated with Locke, Hume |
| Mind has in-built structures | Mind as a blank slate at birth |
理性主义：知识来自理性和天赋观念，代表人物笛卡尔、柏拉图，心灵有内在结构。经验主义：知识来自感官经验，代表人物洛克、休谟，心灵如白板。
5. Ethics: Utilitarianism | 伦理学：功利主义
Utilitarianism is a moral theory that says the right action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It is a form of consequentialism, meaning it judges actions by their outcomes. Jeremy Bentham, a key thinker, called this the ‘greatest happiness principle’.
功利主义是一种道德理论，主张正确的行为就是能为最大多数人带来最大幸福的行为。它属于后果论，即根据结果评判行为。关键思想家杰里米·边沁称之为“最大幸福原则”。
Imagine you have to share a pizza. Utilitarianism would say: slice it so that the overall satisfaction of the group is highest. Even if one person gets a smaller slice, if the total joy increases, that is the right choice. The focus is on net happiness.
想象你要分一块披萨。功利主义会说：按让全组人总体满意度最高的方式来切。即使一个人得到的少一点，只要总快乐增加了，那就是正确的选择。着眼点是净幸福。
Memory trick: The word ‘utility’ means usefulness. Think of a ‘happiness calculator’ that adds up pleasure and subtracts pain. Picture Bentham with a giant adding machine, crunching numbers on happiness units. Also, remember ‘Greatest good for greatest number’ – the ‘G’ twins.
记忆技巧：“功利”意味着有用性。想象一台“幸福计算器”，把快乐加起来，减去痛苦。设想边沁在用一台巨大的加法机，加总幸福单位。此外，记住“最大多数人的最大善”——两个“最大”。
6. Ethics: Deontology | 伦理学：道义论
Deontology is an ethical theory that focuses on rules, duties and obligations, rather than consequences. Immanuel Kant is the most famous deontologist. He argued that certain actions (like lying or breaking promises) are always wrong, no matter how good the consequences.
道义论是一种聚焦于规则、义务和责任而非后果的伦理理论。伊曼纽尔·康德是最著名的道义论者。他论证某些行为（如撒谎、违背承诺）无论后果多好都是错误的。
Kant introduced the ‘categorical imperative’: act only according to that rule which you could wish to become a universal law. In other words, before acting, ask: ‘What if everyone did this?’ If the rule cannot be universally followed without contradiction, it is wrong.
康德提出了“定言命令”：只依照你能够愿意它成为普遍法则的那条规则去行动。换句话说，行动前问：“如果每个人都这样做，会怎样？”如果该规则无法被普遍遵循而不自相矛盾，那就是错误的。
Memory trick: The Greek word ‘deon’ means ‘duty’. Think of a ‘duty robot’ programmed with unbreakable ethical rules. Also, Kant’s name sounds like ‘cant’, as in ‘can’t break the rules’. Picture Kant holding a giant sign saying ‘Do not lie – ever!’.
记忆技巧：希腊词“deon”意为“义务”。想象一个“义务机器人”，内置了不可违反的伦理规则。此外，康德的名字听起来像“can’t”，意为“不能”——不能破坏规则。想象康德举着大牌子：“绝不说谎！”
7. Free Will and Determinism | 自由意志与决定论
Free will is the idea that we are able to make choices that are genuinely free, not caused by forces outside our control. It underpins moral responsibility: we praise or blame people only if they freely chose their actions.
自由意志是指我们能够做出真正自由的选择，不受我们无法控制的外力所决定。它支撑着道德责任：只有人们自由选择了其行为，我们才会赞扬或责备他们。
Determinism claims that every event, including human decisions, is the inevitable result of prior causes. In a deterministic universe, if we knew all the laws of physics and an initial state, we could predict all future actions. This challenges free will.
决定论声称，每个事件，包括人类决定，都是先前原因的必然结果。在一个决定论的宇宙里，如果我们知道所有物理定律和初始状态，就能预测一切未来行动。这对自由意志构成了挑战。
Memory trick: Free will = you could have done otherwise. Determinism = a line of dominoes falling, each tile knocking over the next with no choice. Imagine a ‘choice point’ – free will says you can turn left or right; determinism says the path was set from the start.
记忆技巧：自由意志 = 你本可以不这样做。决定论 = 一排倒下的多米诺骨牌，每块牌别无选择地推倒下一块。想象一个“选择点”——自由意志说你可以左转或右转；决定论说路线从一开始就已注定。
8. The Mind-Body Problem: Dualism vs Physicalism | 身心问题：二元论与物理主义
The mind-body problem asks: what is the relationship between the mind (consciousness, thoughts) and the body (brain, physical matter)? Dualism says the mind and body are two different substances. Descartes proposed substance dualism, describing the mind as a non-physical thinking thing and the body as a physical machine.
身心问题追问：心灵（意识、思想）与身体（大脑、物质）之间是什么关系？二元论认为心灵和身体是两种不同的实体。笛卡尔提出实体二元论，把心灵描述为非物理的思想之物，身体则是物理机器。
Physicalism (or materialism) argues that the mind is nothing over and above the physical brain. Mental states are brain states. There is no ghost in the machine – consciousness arises from complex neural activity. This fits with modern science.
物理主义（或唯物主义）认为，心灵不过是物理的大脑。心理状态就是大脑状态。机器里没有幽灵——意识产生自复杂的神经活动。这与现代科学相吻合。
Memory trick: Dualism = two (dual) – like a ghost (mind) floating near the body. Physicalism = all physical, no ghost. Imagine a smartphone: dualism would say there is a magical ‘app soul’ separate from the hardware, while physicalism says the apps are just patterns in the circuitry.
记忆技巧：二元论 = 二，像幽灵（心灵）漂浮在身体旁。物理主义 = 全是物理，没有幽灵。想象一部智能手机：二元论会说有一个与硬件分离的魔法“应用灵魂”；物理主义则说应用只是电路中的模式。
9. The Existence of God: Theism, Atheism, Agnosticism | 上帝存在：有神论、无神论、不可知论
Theism is the belief that at least one god exists. A theist might point to arguments like the design argument (the universe looks designed) or religious experience. Atheism is the lack of belief in any gods. Atheists typically demand empirical evidence and may see suffering as incompatible with a loving god.
有神论是相信至少存在一个神。有神论者可能引用设计论证（宇宙看起来被设计）或宗教经验。无神论是不相信任何神存在。无神论者通常要求经验证据，并可能认为苦难与慈爱的神不相容。
Agnosticism is the position of not knowing or claiming that it is impossible to know whether gods exist. An agnostic says the evidence is insufficient either way. The term comes from Greek ‘a’ (without) and ‘gnosis’ (knowledge).
不可知论是一种不知道或声称无法知道神是否存在的立场。不可知论者说现有证据不足以证实或否定。该术语来自希腊语“a”（无）和“gnosis”（知识）。
Memory trick: ‘Theist’ has ‘the’ – ‘THE God exists’. Atheist adds ‘a-‘ meaning ‘not’, so ‘no god’. Agnostic sounds like ‘a gnostic’ – someone who says ‘I don’t know’. Think of three people in a room: one says ‘Yes, there’s a tiger outside’, one says ‘No tiger’, one says ‘I can’t tell’.
记忆技巧：“Theist”中包含“the”——“那个神存在”。Atheist 加上了“a-”表示“不”，所以无神。Agnostic 听起来像“a gnostic”——一个说“我不知道”的人。想象房间里三个人：一个说“外面有老虎”，一个说“没有老虎”，一个说“我说不准”。
10. Ethical Relativism vs Absolutism | 伦理相对主义与绝对主义
Ethical relativism holds that moral truths are relative to culture, society or individual preferences. What is right in one place may be wrong in another, and there are no universal moral standards. For example, some cultures accept polygamy, others reject it – a relativist says neither is objectively correct.
伦理相对主义认为，道德真理相对于文化、社会或个人偏好。在一个地方对的在另一个地方可能就是错的，不存在普遍道德标准。例如，某些文化接受一夫多妻，另一些文化反对——相对主义者说两者没有客观对错。
Ethical absolutism claims that there are objective, universal moral rules that apply to all people at all times. Actions like murder or torturing innocent people are wrong regardless of cultural context. Absolutists believe in fixed moral truths, often grounded in reason, divine command or human nature.
伦理绝对主义主张存在客观、普遍的道德规则，适用于任何时代的所有人。诸如谋杀或折磨无辜者的行为，无论文化背景如何都是错误的。绝对主义者相信固定的道德真理，通常基于理性、神圣命令或人性。
Memory trick: Relativism = relationships and relativity – it depends on the situation. Imagine a moral compass that spins wildly depending on where you stand. Absolutism = absolute, like a moral anchor that never moves. Think of a sign that says ‘Do not steal’ in every language.
记忆技巧：相对主义 = 关系和相对——视情况而定。想象一个道德指南针，随着你站立的位置疯狂旋转。绝对主义 = 绝对，像永不挪动的道德之锚。想象一块用各种语言写着“不可偷盗”的标牌。
Published by TutorHao | Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com
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