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Some definitions which may help in
understanding the above:
Epistemological
empiricism: The doctrine which
denies or doubts the validity of all
intellectual knowledge and admits only the
certainty of sense-knowledge.
Epistemological
rationalism: The doctrine which
denies or doubts the validity of
sense-knowledge and admits only the
certainty of intellectual knowledge.
Metaphysical
Idealism: The doctrine that nothing
exists except ideas or minds; material
reality is an illusion. The mind is the
sole existing thing.
Metaphysical
Materialism: The doctrine that
nothing exists except matter in motion
(material reality). The mind is just a
material entity.
Pragmatism:
The doctrine (or attitude) which places
all knowledge and truth in a direct
relation to life and action. Truth is that
which satisfies human needs and interests
in a social way.
Positivism:
A doctrine that is a form of naturalism
which denies the legitimacy of
philosophical problems and methods and
claims that science is the only knowledge
which is exact and ultimate.
Scientism:
The doctrine that nothing exists
except that which can be measured by the
instruments of science. Reality = the
material universe.
Politicism:
The dogma that all human problems are
political in nature and the solution must
be a political one. Public polls determine
truth and morality.
Determinism:
The doctrine that human beings do not
possess free will; all behavior is
determined. There is no "personal"
responsibility for behavior.
Epistemological
Subjectivism: The doctrine that
objective truth is impossible; truth is
completely relative.
Moral
Relativism: The doctrine that
objective moral principles don't exist;
moral principles are always relative.
There is nothing basically moral or
immoral.
Social
Collectivism: The doctrine that
human individuals live only for the
benefit of the state or society, from
which all rights are derived.
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