📚 Year 7 WJEC Philosophy: Key Vocabulary Quick Revision Guide | Year 7 WJEC 哲学：词汇术语速记指南
Welcome to your quick revision guide for the key philosophical terms you will meet in Year 7 WJEC Philosophy. Mastering this vocabulary will not only help you understand the big questions philosophers ask, but also enable you to express your own ideas clearly and confidently in class discussions, written tasks and assessments. Each term is broken down with a clear definition, a concrete example and a memory tip to make the concepts stick.
欢迎来到 Year 7 WJEC 哲学关键术语速记指南。掌握这些词汇不仅能帮助你理解哲学家们追问的大问题，还能让你在课堂讨论、书面作业和评估中清晰自信地表达自己的想法。每个术语都配有明确的定义、具体的例子和记忆小窍门，让这些概念牢牢印在你的脑海中。
1. Philosophy | 哲学
Philosophy comes from the ancient Greek words 'philo' (love) and 'sophia' (wisdom), so it literally means 'the love of wisdom'. It is the activity of asking fundamental questions about reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind and language, and trying to answer them through rational argument rather than simply accepting traditional stories or unexamined beliefs.
哲学源自希腊语 'philo'（爱）和 'sophia'（智慧），字面意思就是“爱智慧”。它是一种追问关于实在、存在、知识、价值、理性、心灵和语言的根本问题的活动，并试图通过理性论证来回答这些问题，而不是简单地接受传统故事或未经审视的信念。
When you wonder whether it is ever right to tell a lie, or what makes an action fair, you are already doing philosophy. Philosophers build careful arguments, examine reasons and challenge assumptions, much like detectives searching for the most justified answers.
当你思考“说谎是否永远不会错”或“怎样的行为才叫公平”时，你已经是在做哲学了。哲学家们构建严谨的论证，检验各种理由，并挑战未经证实的假设，就像侦探一样寻找最合乎理性的答案。
Memory tip: Think of philosophy as a gym for your mind. Just as physical exercise strengthens your body, philosophical thinking strengthens your ability to reason, ask sharp questions and see beyond appearances.
记忆小窍门： 把哲学想象成思维的健身房。正如体育锻炼强健你的身体，哲学思考能锻炼你的推理和提出犀利问题的能力，并让你看得更深更远。
2. Ethics | 伦理学
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that investigates questions about right and wrong, good and bad, and how we ought to live. It does not simply describe what people happen to believe is moral; it critically examines moral values and principles, and asks whether they can be justified.
伦理学是哲学的一个分支，研究关于对与错、好与坏以及我们应当如何生活的问题。它不只是描述人们恰好相信什么道德观念，而是批判性地审视各种道德价值和原则，并追问它们能否得到合理的辩护。
For example, ethics asks 'Is it always wrong to steal?' rather than merely noting that most people think stealing is wrong. It pushes us to give reasons, such as respect for property or the harm caused to others, and to test whether those reasons hold up in challenging cases, like stealing food to save a starving child.
例如，伦理学会问“偷窃是否总是错的？”，而不仅仅观察到大多数人认为偷窃是不对的。它推动我们给出理由，比如尊重财产权或对他人造成的伤害，并检验这些理由在一些困难的情形下是否依然成立，比如为了救一个快要饿死的孩子而偷食物。
- English: Ethics is sometimes called moral philosophy. It is where philosophy meets everyday decisions, helping us to reflect more carefully on our choices.
- 中文： 伦理学有时被称为道德哲学。它是哲学与日常决策相遇的地方，帮助我们更审慎地反思自己的选择。
3. Argument | 论证
In philosophy, an argument is not a shouting match or a disagreement. It is a structured set of statements where some statements (the premises) are put forward as reasons to support another statement (the conclusion). The goal is to show that if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true, or at least very likely.
在哲学中，论证（argument）不是争吵或意见不合。它是一组结构化的陈述，其中一些陈述（前提）被提出来作为支持另一个陈述（结论）的理由。其目标是表明如果前提为真，那么结论也必然为真，或者至少有很高的可能性。
A helpful way to visualise an argument is as a bridge: the premises form the supports, and the conclusion is the roadway they hold up. Without strong premises, the argument collapses. For instance: Premise 1 – All humans are mortal. Premise 2 – Socrates is a human. Conclusion – Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
把论证想象成一座桥是很有帮助的方法：前提是桥墩，结论是它们支撑的桥面。没有牢固的桥墩，桥就会坍塌。例如：前提 1——所有人都会死。前提 2——苏格拉底是人。结论——所以，苏格拉底会死。
Memory tip: Remember that philosophers say 'give me your argument', not 'shout louder'. Always look for the reasons behind a claim.
记忆小窍门： 记住，哲学家会说“给出你的论证”，而不是“喊得再大声些”。永远要寻找一个主张背后的理由。
4. Premise and Conclusion | 前提与结论
A premise is a statement offered as a reason to believe a conclusion. A conclusion is the statement that the premises are meant to support. Every philosophical argument consists of at least one premise and one conclusion; identifying them is the first step in evaluating whether the argument works.
前提（premise）是提供出来作为相信结论的理由的陈述。结论（conclusion）则是前提所要支持的陈述。每一个哲学论证都包含至少一个前提和一个结论；识别出前提和结论是评价一个论证是否成立的第一步。
Words like 'therefore', 'so', 'consequently' and 'it follows that' often signal that a conclusion is coming. Words like 'because', 'since' and 'for the reason that' typically introduce premises. When you read a philosophical text, try underlining signal words to separate the premises from the conclusion.
像“因此”、“所以”、“于是”和“由此可得”这些词常常预示结论即将出现。而“因为”、“由于”和“理由是”这样的词通常引出前提。当你阅读哲学文本时，可以试着在这些信号词下划线，以区分前提和结论。
- English: Practice with a simple claim: 'We should wear coats today because it is freezing outside.' Premise: It is freezing outside. Conclusion: We should wear coats today.
- 中文： 用一个简单说法来练习：“我们今天应该穿外套，因为外面非常冷。”前提：外面非常冷。结论：我们今天应该穿外套。
5. Evidence | 证据
Evidence is the information or data used to support a claim or show that a premise is true. In philosophy, evidence may come from observation, scientific findings, logical reasoning or thought experiments, and it must be relevant and reliable.
证据是用来支持一个主张或表明某个前提为真的信息或数据。在哲学中，证据可能来自观察、科学发现、逻辑推理或思想实验，而且它必须是相关且可靠的。
For example, if someone argues that treating others fairly makes societies more peaceful, evidence might include historical studies of communities with strong fairness norms. Without evidence, a premise is little more than a guess, and a wise thinker always asks, 'What is the evidence for that?'
例如，如果有人认为公平待人使社会更和平，证据可以包括对拥有强公平规范的社群的历史研究。如果没有证据，前提就差不多只是一个猜测。明智的思想者总会问：“支持这一点的证据是什么？”
Memory tip: Treat evidence as the fuel that powers an argument. A clever argument without evidence is like a car without petrol – it looks promising but goes nowhere.
记忆小窍门： 把证据看作给论证提供动力的燃料。一个没有证据的聪明论证就像一辆没有汽油的车——看着很有希望，却哪里也去不了。
6. Belief vs Knowledge | 信念与知识
Belief is the attitude of accepting that something is true. You can believe something without having good reasons, and beliefs can be true or false. Knowledge, in philosophy, is traditionally understood as justified true belief: you know something if you believe it, it is true, and you have good justification for believing it.
信念（belief）是认为某事为真的态度。你可以在没有充分理由的情况下相信某事，而且信念可真可假。而在哲学中，知识（knowledge）传统上被理解为经过辩护的真信念：你知道某事，当且仅当你相信它，它是真的，并且你有充分的理由相信它。
Imagine a student guessing the answer to a multiple-choice question. If she guesses correctly, she has a true belief but does not have knowledge, because her belief is not based on any justification. Only when she understands the material and can give reasons does her true belief count as knowledge.
想象一个学生在猜选择题的答案。如果她猜对了，她拥有一个真的信念，但并不拥有知识，因为她的信念缺乏任何合理的辩护。只有当她理解了知识内容并能够给出理由时，她的真信念才算作知识。
- English: Belief: 'I think it will rain tomorrow.' Knowledge: 'I know water boils at 100°C at sea level because I have tested it and understand the science.'
- 中文： 信念：“我觉得明天会下雨。”知识：“我知道在标准大气压下水在 100°C 沸腾，因为我做过测试并理解其中的科学。”
7. Truth | 真理
Truth is what corresponds to reality. A statement is true when it accurately describes how things actually are, independent of what anyone believes or wishes. Philosophers debate different theories of truth, but for Year 7, the most intuitive idea is the correspondence theory: a claim is true if it matches the facts.
真理是与实在相符合的东西。当一个陈述准确地描述了事物的实际情况，它便是真的，这与任何人相信什么或希望什么无关。哲学家们争论关于真理的不同理论，但对 Year 7 来说，最直观的是符合论：一个主张如果与事实相符，它就是真的。
'The sun is a star' is true because it corresponds to astronomical reality, even if someone strongly believes otherwise. In philosophy, we care about truth because arguments built on false premises cannot reliably lead us to knowledge.
“太阳是一颗恒星”是真的，因为它与天文学事实相符，即使有人坚信相反的观点。在哲学中，我们关心真理，因为建立在假前提之上的论证无法可靠地将我们引向知识。
Memory tip: Think of truth as a map that accurately represents the landscape. A misleading map is like a false claim – it might look convincing, but it won't get you to your destination.
记忆小窍门： 把真理想象成一张准确描绘地貌的地图。一张有误导性的地图就好比一个错误的主张——看上去可能很可信，但它无法带你到达目的地。
8. Opinion and Fact | 观点与事实
A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true or false through evidence and observation, such as 'Water freezes at 0°C'. An opinion is a personal belief, preference or judgement that can vary between individuals and is not settled by empirical evidence alone, for instance 'Vanilla is the best ice-cream flavour'.
事实（fact）是可以通过证据和观察来证真或证伪的陈述，比如“水在 0°C 结冰”。观点（opinion）则是个人的信念、偏好或判断，人与人之间可能千差万别，且不能单凭经验证据就可以定论，例如“香草是最美味的冰淇淋口味”。
In philosophical work, it is crucial to distinguish between the two. When someone says 'Stealing is wrong', this sounds like an opinion, but ethics invites us to treat it as a moral claim that might be supported or undermined by careful reasoning. Philosophy teaches us not to dismiss difficult moral questions as 'just an opinion' too quickly.
在哲学研究中，区分两者至关重要。当有人说“偷窃是错的”，这听上去像是一个观点，但伦理学鼓励我们把它当作一个可以通过审慎推理加以支持或推翻的道德主张。哲学教会我们不要过快地用“只是个人观点”来回避复杂的道德问题。
- English: Fact: 'London is the capital of the United Kingdom.' Opinion: 'London is the most exciting city in the world.'
- 中文： 事实：“伦敦是英国的首都。”观点：“伦敦是世界上最令人兴奋的城市。”
9. Morality | 道德
Morality refers to the set of standards and principles that guide how we treat one another, distinguish right from wrong and shape our character. It includes rules like 'do not harm innocent people' and values like honesty, fairness and compassion. Morality can be influenced by culture, religion and reflection, but philosophers ask whether there are moral truths that apply universally.
道德（morality）指的是引导我们如何对待他人、辨别是非以及塑造自身品格的一系列标准和原则。它包括“不要伤害无辜的人”这样的规则，以及诚实、公平和同情这样的价值。道德可能受到文化、宗教和反思的影响，但哲学家追问的是，是否存在普遍适用的道德真理。
Imagine witnessing someone drop money without noticing. Morality pushes you to consider whether returning it is the right thing to do, and why. A moral reason might be 'because it respects the other person's right to their own property', rather than simply fearing punishment.
想象你目睹有人掉了钱却没有察觉。道德推动你去思考是否应当归还，以及为什么。一个道德理由可能是“因为这尊重了他人对自己财产的权利”，而不仅仅是因为害怕惩罚。
Memory tip: Think of morality as an internal compass. It does not always provide an easy, obvious direction, but it helps you navigate choices when no one else is watching.
记忆小窍门： 把道德想象成一个内在的指南针。它并不总能提供轻松、显而易见的方向，但能帮助你在无人监督时依然能做出正确的选择。
10. Dilemma | 困境
A dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more options, each of which seems to involve some significant moral cost or undesirable consequence. In a moral dilemma, whichever action you choose, something important will be lost or compromised, which makes the decision particularly challenging.
困境（dilemma）是指必须在两个或更多选项之间做出艰难抉择的情境，而每一个选项似乎都包含着严重的道德代价或令人不愿接受的后果。在道德困境中，无论你选择哪一行动，都会损失或折损某些重要的东西，这使得决策格外棘手。
A classic example is the runaway trolley problem: a trolley is hurtling towards five people tied to the track, and you can pull a lever to divert it onto another track where only one person is tied. Both options involve saving some lives at the expense of others, and thoughtful people disagree fiercely about the right course of action.
一个经典的例子是失控的电车难题：一辆电车正冲向被绑在铁轨上的五个人，你可以扳动拉杆让电车转向另一条轨道，那条轨道上只绑着一个人。两种选择都意味着以牺牲一些生命为代价的拯救，而深思熟虑的人们会对于正确的做法争论不休。
- English: Dilemmas are powerful tools in philosophy because they force us to examine our principles and discover which values we prioritise when they conflict.
- 中文： 困境在哲学中是强有力的工具，因为它们迫使我们审视自己的原则，并发现当价值发生冲突时我们优先考虑的是什么。
11. Utilitarianism | 功利主义
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that says the right action is the one that produces the greatest overall happiness for the greatest number of people. It judges actions by their consequences, and happiness is understood as pleasure and the absence of pain. This approach is often summarised as the 'greatest happiness principle'.
功利主义（utilitarianism）是一种伦理理论，主张正确的行为就是能为最大多数人带来最大整体幸福的行为。它从后果来评判行为，幸福被理解为快乐和痛苦的缺失。这种方法通常被概括为“最大幸福原则”。
If you found a wallet full of cash, a utilitarian would ask: 'What action would create the most happiness?' Returning the wallet might bring relief to the owner and trust in the community, while keeping it would give you a short-term pleasure at the expense of someone else's distress. The calculation is not always simple, which makes utilitarianism a fascinating tool for discussing dilemmas.
如果你捡到一个装满现金的钱包，功利主义者会问：“什么行为会带来最多的幸福？”归还钱包可能给失主带来极大的宽慰并增加社区的信任，而私吞它可能让你获得短暂的快乐，却以别人的痛苦为代价。这种计算并不总是那么简单，使得功利主义成为探讨困境时令人着迷的工具。
Memory tip: Link the idea to a happiness calculation: 'U' for utility means measuring what is useful in creating happiness for everyone affected. Always ask – does this choice do the most good for the most people?
记忆小窍门： 把这个理念与“幸福计算”联系起来：功利（utility）的 U 意味着衡量什么对每个受影响的人创造幸福有用。要经常问自己——这个选择是否对最多的人做了最大的善事？
12. Free Will | 自由意志
Free will is the ability to make choices that are genuinely your own, unforced by external factors or predetermined causes. If you have free will, you could have chosen to act differently in the same situation, which is essential for moral responsibility – we usually only praise or blame people for actions they freely chose.
自由意志（free will）是指能够做出真正属于自己的选择，而不被外在因素或预定原因所强制的一种能力。如果你有自由意志，就意味着在相同的情境下你本可以选择不同的行动方式，这对道德责任至关重要——我们通常只称赞或责备人们自由选择的行为。
Imagine you see someone drop their bus pass. If you decide to pick it up and return it, was that decision fully under your control, or was it determined by your upbringing, brain chemistry and past experiences? Philosophers debate whether free will can coexist with a world governed by cause and effect, a puzzle that challenges us to think deeply about human nature.
想象你看到有人掉了公交卡。如果你决定捡起来并归还，这个决定完全在你的掌控之中吗？还是由你的成长经历、大脑化学反应和过往经历所决定的？哲学家们争论自由意志是否能与一个由因果法则支配的世界共存，这个难题也激励着我们深入思考人性。
- English: For Year 7, the key is to notice the experience of choosing. When you deliberate over right and wrong, you feel free. Whether that freedom is real or an illusion is one of philosophy’s most exciting puzzles.
- 中文： 对 Year 7 来说，关键在于注意做选择时的体验。当你在对错之间仔细权衡时，你会感觉自己拥有自由。而这份自由究竟是真实的还是幻觉，正是哲学最激动人心的谜题之一。
Published by TutorHao | Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com
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