📚 Year 8 CAIE Philosophy: Vocabulary & Terminology Quick Memorisation Guide | Year 8 CAIE 哲学：词汇术语速记指南
Welcome to your quick memorisation guide for Year 8 CAIE Philosophy. This resource breaks down the most important vocabulary and key terms you will encounter, turning each one into a manageable idea with a clear memory aid. Whether you are preparing for a test or simply building your philosophical toolkit, these explanations will help you recall meanings quickly and use them confidently in your writing.
欢迎来到 Year 8 CAIE 哲学词汇速记指南。这份资料将你学习中会遇到的最重要词汇和关键术语逐一拆解，把每个概念转化为易于掌握的思想，并配上清晰的记忆辅助。无论你是在准备考试，还是只想充实自己的哲学工具箱，这些解释都能帮助你快速回想词义，并在写作中自信地使用它们。
1. Core Concepts of Philosophy | 哲学核心概念
Philosophy comes from the Greek words 'philo' (love) and 'sophia' (wisdom), meaning the love of wisdom. It is the activity of asking foundational questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason and reality. Philosophers do not simply accept answers; they examine arguments, challenge assumptions and seek clarity.
哲学 一词源于希腊语 'philo'（爱）和 'sophia'（智慧），意为对智慧的热爱。它是追问关于存在、知识、价值、理性和实在等根本问题的活动。哲学家不会简单地接受答案；他们审视论证、挑战假设并追求清晰。
Memory trick: Imagine a person hugging a big question mark because they 'love wisdom'. That image captures the spirit of philosophy.
记忆提示： 想象一个人拥抱着一个大大的问号，因为他“热爱智慧”。这个画面就抓住了哲学的精神。
Key term – Concept: A concept is an abstract idea that helps us categorise and understand the world, such as 'justice', 'truth' or 'beauty'. Philosophy analyses concepts to see what they really mean.
关键术语 – 概念： 概念是一种抽象观念，帮助我们分类和理解世界，例如“正义”、“真理”或“美”。哲学通过分析概念来探究它们真正的含义。
Key term – Worldview: A worldview is a person's overall framework of beliefs about life and the universe. Philosophy often examines and compares different worldviews to uncover hidden assumptions.
关键术语 – 世界观： 世界观是一个人对生命和宇宙的总体信念框架。哲学经常审视和比较不同的世界观，以揭示其中隐藏的假设。
2. Branches of Philosophy | 哲学的分支
Philosophy has several main branches, each asking different types of questions. Knowing these branches helps you sort every new term into the right box.
哲学有多个主要分支，每个分支提出不同类型的问题。了解这些分支能帮助你每遇到一个新术语时，就把它放进正确的盒子里。
Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It asks: What does it mean to know something? How do we acquire knowledge? Can we trust our senses?
认识论 是关于知识的研究。它追问：知道某事物意味着什么？我们如何获得知识？我们能够信任感官吗？
Memory trick: 'E-pistemo-logy' – think of 'episteme' (Greek for knowledge) and 'logy' (study). Sound it out as 'eh-PIS-tuh-MOL-uh-jee', and imagine an 'E-piston' (a piston) pumping knowledge into your brain.
记忆提示： “认识论”英文 Epistemology，可以拆成 'episteme'（知识）和 'logy'（学问）。想象一个活塞（piston）正在往你大脑里注入知识。
Metaphysics explores the nature of reality beyond the physical. It asks: What is there? What is time? Do we have free will? Are there things that exist but cannot be seen?
形而上学 探索超越物理层面的实在本质。它追问：存在什么？时间是什么？我们有自由意志吗？是否存在无法看见的事物？
Memory aid: 'Meta' means beyond, and 'physics' refers to the physical world. So metaphysics is 'beyond physics'. Picture a book floating above a lab table – ideas about reality that go beyond what you can measure.
记忆辅助： “Meta”意为“在…之后/超越”，“physics”指物理世界。所以形而上学就是“超越物理的学问”。想象一本书飘浮在实验桌上空——代表超越可测量事物的实在观念。
Ethics (or moral philosophy) studies right and wrong, good and bad. It asks: How should we live? What makes an action morally right?
伦理学（或道德哲学）研究对与错、善与恶。它追问：我们应该如何生活？什么使一个行为在道德上是正确的？
Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It provides rules for constructing valid arguments and spotting bad ones.
逻辑学 是对正确推理的研究。它为构建有效论证和识别不良论证提供了规则。
3. Arguments: Premises and Conclusions | 论证：前提与结论
An argument in philosophy is not a shouting match; it is a set of statements where some (premises) are offered as reasons to support another statement (the conclusion).
哲学中的 论证 不是争吵；它是一组陈述，其中一些陈述（前提）被作为理由来支持另一个陈述（结论）。
Premise: A statement that provides a reason or evidence in an argument. Often introduced by words like 'because' or 'since'.
前提： 在论证中提供理由或证据的陈述。常由“因为”、“鉴于”等词引入。
Conclusion: The statement that the premises are meant to support or prove. It is what the arguer wants you to accept. Signal words include 'therefore', 'thus' and 'consequently'.
结论： 前提旨在支持或证明的陈述。它是论证者希望你接受的断言。标志词包括“因此”、“所以”、“因而”。
Example: Premise 1: All humans are mortal. Premise 2: Socrates is a human. Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
例子：前提1：所有人都会死。前提2：苏格拉底是人。结论：因此，苏格拉底会死。
Memory aid: Think of a 'P-C train': Premises are the engine pulling the carriages, and the Conclusion is the final destination station. The train only reaches the station if the engine is properly connected.
记忆辅助： 想象一列“前提-结论火车”：前提是拉着车厢的火车头，结论是终点站。只有火车头连接紧密，列车才能抵达车站。
4. Validity, Soundness and Strength | 有效性、可靠性与强度
These terms evaluate how good an argument is. In deductive arguments, we check for validity and soundness.
这些术语用来评判一个论证有多好。在演绎论证中，我们检查 有效性 和 可靠性。
Valid argument: An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. It is about the logical structure, not the actual truth of the premises. A valid argument guarantees that the conclusion follows from the premises.
有效论证： 一个论证中，如果前提为真，结论就必然为真。这关乎逻辑结构，而非前提的实际真实性。有效论证能保证结论从前提中必然推出。
Sound argument: A valid argument with all true premises. Therefore, a sound argument always has a true conclusion.
可靠论证： 一个有效且所有前提都为真的论证。因此，可靠论证的结论总是真的。
Memory trick: 'Valid' checks the shape of the container; 'Sound' checks that the container is filled with true ingredients. A cup (valid) that holds water from a clean source (true premises) gives you drinkable water (sound).
记忆提示： “有效”检查容器的形状是否合适；“可靠”检查容器里是否装满了真实的原料。一个杯子（有效）装了纯净水源（真的前提），就能给你可饮用的水（可靠）。
For non-deductive arguments, we talk about strength and cogency. A strong argument makes its conclusion probable if the premises are true. A cogent argument is strong and has all true premises.
对于非演绎论证，我们谈论 强度 和 说服力。一个强论证能在前提为真时使结论很可能为真。一个有说服力的论证是强的且所有前提都为真。
5. Common Fallacies | 常见谬误
A fallacy is a mistake in reasoning that weakens an argument. Spotting fallacies stops you from being fooled by faulty logic.
谬误 是推理中的错误，会削弱论证。识别谬误能让你不被错误的逻辑所愚弄。
Ad hominem (attack on the person): Instead of addressing the argument, you attack the person making it. Latin for 'to the man'.
人身攻击谬误：不去回应论证本身，而是攻击提出论证的人。拉丁语意为“针对人”。
Memory aid: Imagine a debate where one person says, 'You are wrong because you have messy hair!' That is ad hominem – attacking the hairdo, not the argument.
记忆辅助： 想象一场辩论，一个人说：“你错了，因为你头发乱糟糟的！”这就是人身攻击——攻击发型，而非论证。
Straw man fallacy: Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack. You set up a weak 'straw man' version of their view and knock it down.
稻草人谬误：歪曲某人的论证，使其更容易被攻击。你树立一个脆弱的“稻草人”版本来代表对方的观点，然后将其打倒。
Memory aid: Picture someone building a scarecrow that looks nothing like the real farmer, then bravely defeating the scarecrow and claiming victory over the farmer.
记忆辅助： 想象有人扎了一个完全不像真农夫的稻草人，然后勇敢地打败了稻草人，并宣称战胜了农夫。
False dilemma (either/or fallacy): Presenting only two options when more exist. 'You are either with us or against us.'
假两难谬误（非此即彼谬误）：在实际上存在更多选项时，只呈现两个选项。“你要么支持我们，要么反对我们。”
Slippery slope: Arguing that a small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of extreme events, without evidence for that chain.
滑坡谬误：认为微小的第一步将不可避免地引发一连串极端事件，却没有证据证明这一连串事件会发生。
6. Ethical Theories | 伦理理论
Ethical theories provide frameworks for deciding how to act. Three major approaches are especially important in Year 8 CAIE Philosophy.
伦理理论为决定如何行动提供了框架。在 Year 8 CAIE 哲学中，三种主要进路尤其重要。
Utilitarianism: The right action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It is a consequentialist theory – it judges actions by their outcomes. Key phrase: 'greatest good for the greatest number'.
功利主义： 正确的行为是能为最大多数人带来最大幸福的行为。它是一种后果主义理论——根据结果来评判行为。关键语：“最大多数人的最大善”。
Memory trick: 'Util' sounds like 'utility' (usefulness). Think of a happiness calculator that adds up utils (units of happiness) for everyone affected.
记忆提示： “功利”的英文 Util 听起来像“utility”（效用）。想象一个幸福计算器，把所有受影响者的幸福单位加起来。
Deontology: This theory focuses on duties and rules. An action is right if it follows a moral rule or duty, regardless of the consequences. Immanuel Kant's idea of the 'categorical imperative' is a key example: act only according to rules that could become universal laws.
义务论： 该理论聚焦于义务和规则。一个行为如果遵循道德规则或义务就是正确的，无论后果如何。康德提出的“定言命令”就是一个核心例子：只按照你同时愿意它成为普遍法则的准则去行动。
Memory aid: 'Deon' means duty in Greek. Picture a doorman (deon-man) who must never break the rules, no matter what happens outside the door.
记忆辅助： “Deon”在希腊语中意为义务。想象一个守门人（deon-man），他无论门外发生什么都绝不违反规则。
Virtue ethics: This approach focuses on the character of the person acting rather than on rules or consequences. It asks: What would a virtuous person do? Key virtues include courage, honesty and compassion.
德性伦理学： 这一进路关注行为者的品格，而非规则或后果。它追问：一个有德性的人会怎么做？关键德性包括勇敢、诚实和同情。
Memory trick: Think of a 'virtue compass' inside you that points toward the moral north, guided by role models like wise elders or heroes.
记忆提示： 想象你内心有一个“德性罗盘”，指向道德上的北方，它由智慧的师长或英雄等榜样来指引。
7. Free Will and Determinism | 自由意志与决定论
Free will is the belief that humans can make genuinely free choices that are not determined by prior causes. Determinism is the view that every event, including human actions, is caused by previous events in accordance with fixed laws of nature.
自由意志 是指相信人类能够做出真正自由的选择，这些选择不受先前原因的决定。决定论 则认为每一个事件，包括人类行为，都是由先前事件按照固定的自然法则引起的。
Hard determinism: If everything is determined, free will is an illusion. We are not morally responsible in the way we think we are.
强硬决定论： 如果一切都是被决定的，那么自由意志就是一种幻觉。我们并非像我们以为的那样具有道德责任。
Libertarianism (in philosophy): We do have free will, and determinism is false. Human beings can initiate new causal chains.
自由意志论（哲学中）： 我们确实拥有自由意志，决定论是错误的。人类能够开启新的因果链条。
Compatibilism: Free will and determinism can coexist. Free will means acting according to your own desires and intentions, without external coercion, even if those desires are themselves determined.
相容论： 自由意志与决定论可以并存。自由意志意味着按照你自己的欲望和意图行动，不受外部强制，即便这些欲望本身是被决定的。
Memory aid: Picture a river (determinism) flowing inevitably downstream. A libertarian fish believes it can swim any direction; a hard determinist fish thinks it is just carried along; a compatibilist fish says, 'I may be carried, but as long as I swim willingly with the current, I am free.'
记忆辅助： 想象一条河（决定论）必然向下游流淌。一条自由意志论的鱼相信它能游向任何方向；一条强硬决定论的鱼认为自己只是被冲走；而相容论的鱼说：“我可能被带着走，但只要我自愿顺流而游，我就是自由的。”
8. Mind and Body | 心灵与身体
The mind-body problem asks: What is the relationship between our mental life (thoughts, feelings, consciousness) and our physical body and brain?
心身问题追问：我们的精神生命（思想、感受、意识）与物质身体和大脑之间是什么关系？
Dualism: The mind and body are two distinct substances. The mind is non-physical and can exist independently of the body. René Descartes is the most famous dualist. He argued, 'I think, therefore I am', suggesting the thinking self is separate from the material body.
二元论： 心灵与身体是两种不同的实体。心灵是非物质的，可以独立于身体而存在。勒内·笛卡尔是最著名的二元论者。他论证说：“我思故我在”，暗示思考的自我与物质身体是分离的。
Memory trick: 'Dual' means two. Think of a ghost (mind) inside a machine (body). The ghost can think and feel, while the machine moves mechanically.
记忆提示： “Dual”意为二。想象一架机器（身体）里住着一个幽灵（心灵）。幽灵能思考、感受，而机器则机械地运动。
Materialism (Physicalism): Everything that exists is physical, including the mind. Mental states are simply brain states. There is no separate non-physical soul or mind.
唯物主义（物理主义）： 存在的一切都是物质的，包括心灵。心理状态无非是大脑状态。不存在独立的非物质灵魂或心灵。
Memory aid: 'Material' means made of matter. Picture your thoughts as little electric sparks firing across a brain made of neurons – no ghost needed.
记忆辅助： “Material”意为由物质构成。想象你的思维是神经元构成的大脑中迸发的小小电火花——根本不需要幽灵。
9. Knowledge, Belief and Truth | 知识、信念与真理
In epistemology, the classic definition of knowledge is justified true belief (JTB). To know something, you must believe it, it must be true, and you must have good reasons (justification) for believing it.
在认识论中，知识的经典定义是 被证成的真信念（JTB）。要知道某事，你必须相信它，它必须是真的，并且你必须有好的理由（证成）来相信它。
Belief: An attitude that something is the case or that a proposition is true. You can believe something that is false. Knowledge requires truth, so a false belief cannot be knowledge.
信念： 一种认为某事成立或某个命题为真的态度。你可以相信错误的事情。知识要求真理，因此错误的信念不能成为知识。
Truth: A statement is true if it corresponds to reality – the correspondence theory of truth. For example, 'Snow is white' is true because snow really is white.
真理： 一个陈述如果符合实在，即为真——这就是符合论的真理观。例如，“雪是白的”是真的，因为雪确实是白的。
Justification: The evidence or reasons that support a belief. Justification turns a true belief into knowledge. Without justification, a true belief is just a lucky guess.
证成： 支持一个信念的证据或理由。证成使得真信念成为知识。如果没有证成，一个真信念就只是一个侥幸的猜测。
Memory trick: Imagine a three-legged stool. The legs are Belief, Truth and Justification. If any leg is missing, the stool (knowledge) collapses.
记忆提示： 想象一把三脚凳。凳腿分别是信念、真理和证成。少了任何一条腿，这把凳子（知识）就会倒塌。
10. Examination Vocabulary and Revision Tips | 考试词汇与复习技巧
CAIE exam questions use command words that tell you exactly what to do. Learning these words makes sure you answer the question fully.
CAIE考试题目使用指令词，明确告诉你该如何作答。学会这些词能确保你完整地回答题目。
Explain: Give reasons for how or why something happens. Unpack the meaning step by step. Use 'because' and 'therefore' to show causal links.
解释： 给出某事如何或为何发生的理由。一步步拆解其含义。用“因为”和“因此”来展示因果联系。
Describe: Provide a detailed account of the main features or characteristics. No need for evaluation; just paint a clear picture.
描述： 详细叙述主要特征或特点。无需评价；只需描绘清晰的画面。
Evaluate/Discuss: Consider different sides of an issue, weigh strengths and weaknesses, and reach a supported conclusion. Use phrases like 'on one hand... on the other hand...' and 'in conclusion...'.
评价/讨论： 考虑问题的不同方面，权衡优缺点，并得出有据可依的结论。使用“一方面……另一方面……”和“总之……”等短语。
Analyse: Break down a concept or argument into its parts and show how they relate. Identify assumptions and implications.
分析： 将一个概念或论证分解成各个部分，并展示它们如何关联。识别假设和推论。
Memory aid: Create a personal 'command word dictionary' on a flashcard. On one side write the command word, on the other a short recipe of what to do.
记忆辅助： 在闪卡上制作一个个人“指令词词典”。一面写指令词，另一面写一个简短的“行动配方”。
Revision tips: Use mnemonic stories. Turn terms like 'Utilitarianism' into a tiny story about a happy calculator. Practise drawing concept maps linking branches, theories and key philosophers. Teach the terms to a friend or record yourself explaining them aloud – teaching makes recall stronger.
复习技巧： 使用记忆故事。把“功利主义”变成一个关于快乐计算器的小故事。练习绘制概念图，将分支、理论和关键哲学家联系起来。向朋友讲解这些术语，或录下自己大声解释的过程——教给别人能强化记忆。
Published by TutorHao | Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）
或截图后用「扫一扫 → 相册」选择本图