Philosophy

Sapir–Whorf hypothesis: linguistic relativity and its implications Sapir-Whorf hypothesis Overview of the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis, its variants, origins, examples, and debates about how language influences thought and perception.

Satyagraha: Gandhi's doctrine of nonviolent resistance Satyagraha Satyagraha is Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance — often called 'truth-force' — developed in South Africa and applied in India's independence movement; it influenced civi…

Satyameva Jayate — 'Truth Alone Triumphs' (Indian national motto) Satyameva Jayate A Sanskrit maxim from the Mundaka Upanishad meaning 'Truth alone triumphs', adopted as India's national motto and inscribed beneath the national emblem and on official currency and…

Scholasticism: medieval method of learning, argument, and synthesis Scholasticism Scholasticism is a medieval intellectual method that applied logical argument to reconcile classical philosophy with Christian theology; it shaped university study, theology, and e…

Secular humanism: principles, history, and public significance Secular humanism Secular humanism is a nonreligious ethical and philosophical stance that emphasizes human dignity, reason, and social responsibility without recourse to supernatural beliefs.

Self-denial: meaning, forms, history, and implications Self-denial Overview of self-denial: its definitions, forms such as asceticism and altruistic sacrifice, historical and cultural roles, common examples, and psychological and ethical considera…

Selfishness: definitions, causes, debates and distinctions Selfishness Selfishness is prioritizing one’s own interests over others’. This article explains its meanings, traits, historical views, psychological and economic debates, moral perspectives,…

Selling out: compromise of principles for profit or popularity Selling out Selling out describes abandoning principles, artistic choices, or integrity to gain money, fame, or acceptance; a contested label used in art, commerce and politics to criticize pe…

Seneca Seneca: a polyvalent name referring to the Roman Stoic writer Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the Seneca people and language of the Haudenosaunee, and numerous places and institutions in No…

Sentience: capacity for feeling, consciousness, and moral consideration Sentience Sentience is the capacity to have subjective experiences such as sensations, emotions, or pain. It is central to debates in ethics, animal welfare, consciousness studies, and artif…

Sentimentality: emotional excess in literature, art, and everyday life Sentimentality Sentimentality is the use or expression of emotion that is disproportionate, contrived, or manipulative. This article explains its features, history, uses, criticism, and how it di…

Seven Deadly Sins (Cardinal Sins in Christian Tradition) Seven deadly sins A concise account of the seven deadly sins: their meanings, historical origins in Christian thought, role in theology and art, and their lasting cultural influence.

Shamarpa (Shamar Rinpoche): lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu tradition Shamarpa Shamarpa (Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche) is the second lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school, a high lama lineage of Tibetan Buddhism known as an emanation of Amitabha and for its reco…

Silhak: Korea's practical learning movement in the Joseon era Silhak Silhak (practical learning) was a Korean intellectual movement in the Joseon period that emphasized empirical study, agricultural and economic reform, and policy-oriented scholarsh…

Simple living: principles, history, and practical approaches Simple living Simple living is a choice to reduce possessions and distractions, focusing on needs, health, community, and sustainability. This article explains its features, history, benefits, a…

Skepticism: doubt, inquiry, and critical thinking Skepticism Skepticism is an attitude and set of methods that favor careful doubt, evidence-based inquiry, and suspended judgment. It ranges from everyday caution to philosophical theories abo…

Socrates: life, method, and influence Socrates Socrates (469–399 BC) was a classical Greek philosopher known for the Socratic method, his ethical inquiries, and his lasting influence on Western thought. He left no writings; kno…

Socratic Method: Elenchus and Questioning as a Way of Inquiry Socratic method A method of disciplined questioning associated with Socrates that probes beliefs for consistency and clarity. Widely used in education, law, and therapy to develop critical thinkin…

Solipsism: the philosophical view that only the self is certain Solipsism Solipsism is the view that only one's own mind can be known to exist. This article explains its forms, history, challenges, and why philosophers treat it as a test case for knowled…

Sophism: ancient practice and modern concept of deceptive reasoning Sophism Sophism refers to ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric and philosophy and, in modern usage, to specious or misleading argumentation. This article covers history, traits, examples, an…

Soul: definitions, religious beliefs, and philosophical perspectives Soul Overview of the soul as a concept: definitions, major religious and philosophical views, historical development, cultural roles, and distinctions from mind or consciousness.

Stoicism Stoicism is an ancient Hellenistic school of philosophy that teaches virtue, rational self-control, and living in accordance with nature. It influenced Roman thinkers and modern pr…

Straw man (logical fallacy) Straw man A straw man is an informal fallacy in which an opponent’s position is misrepresented—often exaggerated or simplified—so the distorted version can be refuted instead of the original…

Sublime (philosophy) The sublime in philosophy names experiences, works, or qualities that inspire awe by exceeding ordinary measures—moral, intellectual, aesthetic, spiritual, or metaphysical greatnes…

Suffering: causes, meanings, and responses Suffering An overview of suffering: definitions, types (physical, emotional, existential), philosophical and religious perspectives, healthcare responses, ethical issues, and ways individual…

Summa Theologica A 13th-century systematic synthesis of Christian theology by Thomas Aquinas that became a central text of scholasticism and Catholic doctrine, notable for its method and lasting in…

Svecchachara: will-driven conduct in Sanskrit traditions Svecchachara Svecchachara (svecchācāra) denotes conduct guided by one's own will. A Sanskrit concept adopted in esoteric and ethical discussions, later linked to the Greek Thelema and modern oc…

Syllogism: definition, structure, history and applications Syllogism A syllogism is a classical form of deductive argument that infers a conclusion from two or more premises. This article explains its parts, main types, history from Aristotle, examp…

Synthesis: Combining Elements into a Coherent Whole Synthesis Synthesis is the process of combining parts, ideas, or materials to form a coherent whole; it appears across fields from philosophy and writing to chemistry, music, and technology.

Tai chi chuan (Tàijíquán): Chinese internal martial art and health practice Tai chi chuan Tai chi chuan (Tàijíquán) is a Chinese internal martial art combining slow, flowing movements, breath control, and meditation; practiced for self‑defense, balance, flexibility, and…

Tantric Yoga: Principles, Practices, and Historical Context Tantric yoga Overview of Tantric yoga covering principles, common practices (mantra, mudra, bandha, chakras), historical origins, uses, distinctions, and common misconceptions in contemporary p…

Tao (Dao): Central principle of Chinese philosophy and spiritual practice Tao Tao (Dao) denotes the ineffable 'way' or ordering principle in Chinese thought, central to Taoism and influential across Confucianism, religion, ethics, cosmology, and the arts.

Taoism (Daoism): beliefs, history, practices, and influence Taoism Taoism (Daoism) is a Chinese philosophical and religious tradition centered on the Tao (the Way), emphasizing harmony with nature, simplicity, wu wei, and practices from meditation…

Tautology A term with two main senses: in logic, a formula true under every interpretation; in language, a redundant or circular expression. Covers definitions, examples, history, testing, a…

Teleology Teleology: the study of goal-directedness or purpose in natural and artificial systems, its history from Aristotle to modern debates, and distinctions like teleonomy and design arg…

The principle 'the end justifies the means' in ethics and politics The end justifies the means Overview of the idea that outcomes can justify actions, its roots, variants like consequentialism, historical context including Machiavelli, practical uses, criticisms, and safegua…

The Republic (Plato) — overview, themes, and legacy The Republic Plato's Republic is a Socratic dialogue that examines justice, the ideal city, philosopher‑kings, the tripartite soul, education, and the theory of forms. It deeply influenced West…

The road to hell is paved with good intentions Proverb expressing that benevolent motives can lead to harmful results; covers meaning, origins, examples, and philosophical implications of intentions versus outcomes.

Thelema: a spiritual system centered on the concept of will Thelema Thelema is a modern spiritual and ethical system emphasizing the discovery and enactment of one's 'True Will', with roots in Greek language, Renaissance writing, and the work of Al…

Theodicy: explanations and responses to the problem of evil Theodicy Theodicy examines how the existence of evil and suffering can be reconciled with belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent God. It surveys historical formulations and…

Theological noncognitivism: meaning, arguments, and distinctions Theological noncognitivism Theological noncognitivism holds that religious terms such as 'God' or 'Allah' lack coherent, determinate meaning and so theological statements are cognitively meaningless.

Theory of Colours (Goethe) Theory of Colours Goethe's 1810 book Zur Farbenlehre presents a qualitative, perception-centered account of color phenomena that influenced artists and philosophers even as it diverged from Newtonia…

Theory of Forms (Platonic philosophy) Theory of forms Plato’s Theory of Forms proposes that non-physical, perfect "forms" or ideals underlie the changing things we perceive; this article explains the idea, examples, history, and objec…

“Think of the children”: a rhetorical appeal and its uses Think of the children An encyclopedia overview of the phrase “Think of the children,” its rhetorical character, history in debates about censorship and welfare, examples of use, and how to evaluate clai…

Thought Experiment: Concept, History, Methods, and Examples Thought experiment A thought experiment is a reasoned hypothetical carried out in the imagination to explore consequences, clarify concepts, or test principles. It complements empirical science and a…

Time limit: definitions, uses, and distinctions Time limit Overview of time limits: definition, how they differ from deadlines, and their roles in law, accounting, computing, sport, ethics and management, including effects, enforcement and…

Tolerance Tolerance: acceptance or allowance of differences across social, legal and technical contexts; also a term in engineering, pharmacology and pain science describing permitted variat…

Toleration: social and political concept Toleration Toleration is the practice and principle of allowing beliefs, practices, or identities one disagrees with to exist without persecution; it has legal, moral and social dimensions an…