Philosophy

• Dignity


  The ability to control and define one's life and the freedom to live a life of one's choosing
• Anthropocentrism


  The belief that humans are the central and most significant species on the planet, and that human activity is the primary cause of changes in the environment
• Greatest Happiness Principle


  The principle which states that a person's actions are considered moral or desirable when they produce the greatest happiness for other people
• Environmental Ethics


  Responsibility and philosophical view that advocated human action with regard to environmental issues
• Aristotle proposed a system for classification of plants and animals
• Free Will


  The capacity to choose from alternative courses of action or decision
• Moral Responsibility


  An effective guide for the proper exercise of human freedom
• General Will


  The concept which holds that the government is the best judge of what is beneficial for society, and is thus empowered to act on people's behalf
• Liberalism


  A perspective that upholds the preservation of individual rights and stresses the role of the government in protecting these civil liberties
• Social Role


  Expected roles and behaviors from individuals in society
• Determinism


  A philosophical view that believes that every event in the world is brought about by underlying causes or factors
• Socialization


  The process where an individual learns the behaviors, attitudes, and values prevalent in his own society
• Legal Rights


  Rights that are based on society's customs and laws and are enacted by legislation and enforced by a government
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau: 'Advocate of "General Will". For him, the general will comes from the sovereign citizens and they entrust their will to the government'
• Others


  Objects or individuals outside of personal experience
• Social Contract


  An agreement where individuals sacrifice some of their wants and submit to a higher authority
• Self


  The awareness of one's individuality
• Dialogue


  A genuine relationship established among individuals
• Alienation


  The phenomenon where an individual ceases to view the other as a distinct and authentic person and considers him or her as a mere object
• Ethics of Care


  A perspective that emphasizes the moral dimension of relationships and interactions
• Industrial Society


  Centered on mechanized production and the exchange of goods and services
• Intersubjectivity


  The shared awareness and understanding among persons
• Empathy


  The awareness that the other is a person with thoughts and feelings
• Modern Society


  Technologically advanced society characterized by industry, mass production and advanced communication and transportation
• Happiness


  Having a satisfying life that goes well for the person living it, or a state of mind that maintains a positive outlook on life