A-Level WJEC Philosophy: Quick Terminology Memorisation Guide | A-Level WJEC 哲学：词汇术语速记指南

📚 A-Level WJEC Philosophy: Quick Terminology Memorisation Guide | A-Level WJEC 哲学：词汇术语速记指南

Mastering philosophical terminology is half the battle in A-Level WJEC Philosophy. This guide breaks down essential terms across all key units, offering memory aids and conceptual hooks to help you recall definitions and apply them with precision in essays. Each entry pairs a clear English explanation with its Chinese equivalent, ensuring bilingual clarity and confidence.

掌握哲学术语是攻克 A-Level WJEC 哲学的关键一步。本指南拆解各核心单元的重要术语，提供记忆线索和概念锚点，帮助你准确回忆定义，并在论文中精准运用。每条术语均配有清晰的英文解释和中文对应，确保双语理解，让你更有信心面对考试。

1. Key Logical Concepts | 关键逻辑概念

A solid foundation in logical concepts prevents mistakes in argument analysis. Remember 'validity' as a pipeline: if the premises are true water, the conclusion tap must flow; validity itself guarantees nothing about the water quality.

扎实的逻辑概念基础能避免论证分析中的错误。把'有效性'想象成管道：如果前提是真实的水，那么结论的水龙头必然流出；但有效性本身并不保证水质。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Validity / 有效性	An argument is valid if the conclusion follows logically from the premises. 一个论证如果结论从前提中逻辑地推出，那么它就是有效的。	Think: VALID = Very Assured Logic In Deduction. 联想：V字型管道，前提流入结论。
Soundness / 可靠性	A sound argument is valid AND has all true premises. 可靠的论证既有效又所有前提为真。	S = Safe + Sound; both form and fact must hold. 联想：声音（sound）清晰且真实。
Deduction / 演绎	Reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions. 从一般原理推出具体结论的推理。	De-duce = lead down from the top. 由顶向下引导。
Induction / 归纳	Reasoning from specific observations to general laws. 从具体观察推出一般规律的推理。	IN-duction = going INto the general from many cases. 进入普遍。

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2. Epistemology & Reason | 认识论与理性

WJEC questions on knowledge rely on precise use of terms like a priori and analytic. Visualise a priori as 'prior to experience', like a laptop's factory settings; a posteriori needs the USB drive of sense data plugged in.

WJEC 关于知识的问题依赖于对先天命题和分析命题等术语的精确使用。把先天知识想象成'先于经验'的存在，如笔记本电脑的出厂设置；后天知识则需要插入感觉数据的U盘。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
A priori / 先天	Knowledge independent of experience, e.g. 'All bachelors are unmarried'. 独立于经验的知识，如'所有单身汉都未婚'。	A = Away from senses. 远离感官。
A posteriori / 后天	Knowledge dependent on experience, e.g. 'The sky is blue'. 依赖经验的知识，如'天是蓝的'。	Post = after sensation. 感觉之后。
Analytic / 分析命题	True by definition; predicate contained in subject. 凭借定义即为真；谓词包含在主词内。	Analyse the subject to find the predicate. 分析主词即可。
Synthetic / 综合命题	True in virtue of how the world is; predicate adds new info. 凭借世界的状况为真；谓词添加新信息。	SYNthetic = SYNthesises subject with world. 将主词与世界结合。

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3. Philosophy of Religion: Arguments for God | 宗教哲学：上帝存在的论证

Cosmological, teleological, and ontological arguments each have a signature move. For the ontological argument, Anselm's 'that than which nothing greater can be conceived' becomes the mantra. Think: 'Greatest Possible Being' must exist or it wouldn't be the greatest.

宇宙论、目的论和本体论论证各有其标志性步骤。对于本体论论证，安瑟伦的'无法设想比之更伟大的存在'是核心口诀。记住：'最伟大可能的存在'必然存在，否则就不最伟大了。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Cosmological argument / 宇宙论论证	Argues from the existence of the cosmos to a First Cause (God). 从宇宙的存在推出第一因（上帝）。	Cosmos + logic = Cosmological. 宇宙+逻辑。
Teleological argument / 目的论论证	Argues from apparent design/purpose to a Designer. 从显见的设计/目的推出设计者。	Telos = purpose (Greek). 目的（希腊语）。
Ontological argument / 本体论论证	Argues from the concept of God to God's existence a priori. 从上帝的概念先天推出上帝存在。	Ontology = study of being; 'being' alone proves God. 本体论=存在学。

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4. Philosophy of Religion: Challenges to Belief | 宗教哲学：信仰的挑战

The problem of evil is often phrased as an inconsistent triad. Link the terms: Theodicy tries to 'justify the ways of God to man' (Milton); defence only shows possibility. Remember: Theodicy is a positive programme; a defence is a shield.

恶的问题常被表述为不一致的三元组。联系术语：神义论试图'向人证明上帝之道的正当'（弥尔顿）；辩护仅展示可能性。记住：神义论是积极方案；辩护是盾牌。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Natural evil / 自然恶	Suffering caused by nature, e.g. earthquakes. 由自然造成的苦难，如地震。	Nature's evil. 自然之恶。
Moral evil / 道德恶	Suffering caused by human free choices. 由人类自由选择造成的苦难。	Moral = human agent. 道德=人类行动者。
Theodicy / 神义论	An attempt to explain why God permits evil while remaining all-good and all-powerful. 试图解释上帝为何允许恶的同时仍全善全能。	Theo + dike = God's justice. 上帝的公义。
Defence (e.g. Plantinga) / 辩护（如普兰丁格）	Shows belief in God is not logically inconsistent with evil, without offering a full explanation. 表明对上帝的信仰与恶在逻辑上并不矛盾，但不提供完整解释。	Defence = shield, not solution. 盾牌，非解答。

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5. Ethics: Normative Theories | 伦理学：规范理论

Utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, and virtue ethics are the big three. For utilitarianism, recall 'Greatest Happiness Principle' and the 'calculus' of pleasure. Kant's deontology clicks with 'duty for duty's sake' and the Categorical Imperative as a universal law test.

功利主义、康德伦理学和美德伦理学是三大理论。对于功利主义，记住'最大幸福原则'和快乐的'计算'。康德的义务论通过'为义务而义务'和作为普遍法则检验的定言命令来理解。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Utilitarianism / 功利主义	The right action maximises overall happiness. 正确的行动使整体幸福最大化。	Utility = usefulness for happiness. 效用=对幸福有用。
Categorical Imperative / 定言命令	Kant's supreme moral principle: act only on maxims you can will as universal laws. 康德的最高道德原则：只依据你能意愿其成为普遍法则的准则行动。	Categorical = unconditional; no 'if'. 无条件的。
Hypothetical Imperative / 假言命令	A conditional command based on desires, e.g. 'If you want to be healthy, exercise.' 基于欲望的有条件命令，如'如果你想健康，就锻炼'。	Hypothetical = if-then. 如果……那么。
Virtue Ethics / 美德伦理学	Focuses on character and the Golden Mean, rather than rules or consequences. 关注品格和中庸之道，而非规则或后果。	Virtue = strength of character (Greek arete). 品德优势。

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6. Ethics: Applied Ethics | 伦理学：应用伦理学

Sanctity of life versus quality of life, personhood, and slippery slope are key terms in debates on euthanasia and abortion. Picture a slope: a small change at the top leads to unacceptable consequences at the bottom.

生命神圣性与生命质量、人格以及滑坡效应是安乐死和堕胎辩论中的关键术语。想象一个滑坡：顶端的微小变化会导致底端不可接受的后果。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Sanctity of life / 生命神圣性	The belief that life is intrinsically valuable and should be preserved at all costs. 相信生命具有内在价值，应不惜一切代价保护。	Sanctity = sacred, untouchable. 神圣不可侵犯。
Quality of life / 生命质量	The view that the value of life depends on its experiential depth and absence of suffering. 认为生命的价值取决于其体验深度和无痛苦的程度。	Quality over mere existence. 质量高于单纯存在。
Personhood / 人格	Criteria that grant a being moral rights (e.g. consciousness, rationality). 赋予存在者道德权利的准则（如意识、理性）。	Person = rights-bearer. 人之为人即权利承载者。
Slippery slope / 滑坡效应	The argument that a small first step will lead to a chain of negative events. 认为微小第一步会引发一连串负面事件。	Visualize a literal slippery slope. 形象化滑坡。

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7. Philosophy of Mind | 心灵哲学

Dualism versus physicalism frames the mind-body problem. For substance dualism, Descartes' 'I think therefore I am' separates res cogitans from res extensa. Remember: two distinct substances – thinking stuff and extended stuff.

二元论与物理主义构成了心身问题的框架。对于实体二元论，笛卡尔的'我思故我在'区分了思维实体和广延实体。记住：两种截然不同的实体——思维的东西和广延的东西。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Substance dualism / 实体二元论	Mind and body are two fundamentally different substances. 心灵和身体是两种根本不同的实体。	Dual = two; mind not physical. 二元的，心灵非物理。
Property dualism / 属性二元论	Only one substance (physical) but mental properties are non-physical properties of the brain. 只有一种实体（物理的），但心理属性是大脑的非物理属性。	Property = feature, not separate thing. 属性，非独立东西。
Behaviourism (phil. of mind) / 行为主义	Mental states are just dispositions to behave in certain ways. 心理状态只是以特定方式行为的倾向。	Behaviour = observable; mind as action pattern. 行为即观察到的。
Functionalism / 功能主义	Mental states are defined by their causal roles (inputs, outputs, other states). 心理状态由其因果角色（输入、输出、其他状态）定义。	Function = what it does, not what it's made of. 功能而非材料。

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8. Free Will & Determinism | 自由意志与决定论

Compatibilism and incompatibilism split the debate. Think: Compatibilism = 'compatible' with determinism; we can have free will even if determined, as long as we act on our own desires without coercion.

相容论和不相容论划分了争论。记住：相容论=与决定论'相容'；即使被决定，只要没有强制而按自身欲望行动，我们就拥有自由意志。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Determinism / 决定论	Every event is necessitated by antecedent events and laws. 每个事件都由先前事件和法则必然决定。	Determined = fixed by prior chain. 被先前链条锁定。
Compatibilism / 相容论	Free will and determinism can both be true. 自由意志和决定论可以同时为真。	Compatible = 'can work together'. 可协同工作。
Libertarianism (free will) / 自由意志主义	Free will is incompatible with determinism; we have free will, so determinism is false. 自由意志与决定论不相容；我们有自由意志，所以决定论为假。	Liberty = freedom from causal chains. 从因果链中解放。

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9. Meta-Ethics | 元伦理学

Cognitivism and non-cognitivism distinguish whether moral statements are truth-apt. A quick check: 'Murder is wrong' – if it can be true or false, then cognitivism; if it merely expresses emotion, then non-cognitivism (think 'Boo!' to murder).

认知主义和非认知主义区分道德陈述是否具有真值。快速检验：'谋杀是错的'——如果它可真可假，就是认知主义；如果只是表达情感，就是非认知主义（想象对谋杀喊'呸！'）。

Term / 术语	Definition / 定义	Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
Cognitivism / 认知主义	Moral judgements express beliefs that can be true or false. 道德判断表达可真可假的信念。	Cogni = knowing; moral beliefs are knowledge-like. 认知=知道。
Non-cognitivism / 非认知主义	Moral judgements do not express propositions; they express emotions or commands. 道德判断不表达命题；它们表达情感或命令。	Non-cog = not fact-stating. 不陈述事实。
Naturalistic fallacy / 自然主义谬误	G.E. Moore's charge that defining 'good' in natural terms is a mistake (open question argument). 摩尔指责用自然属性定义'善'是个错误（开放问题论证）。	Fallacy = mistake; natural = reducing ethics to science. 谬误；将伦理学还原为科学。

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