Year 9 SQA Philosophy: A Quick Guide to Key Terminology | 九年级 SQA 哲学：关键术语速记指南

📚 Year 9 SQA Philosophy: A Quick Guide to Key Terminology | 九年级 SQA 哲学：关键术语速记指南

Getting started with philosophy can feel like learning a new language. The subject is packed with abstract ideas and multisyllabic words that often appear on exam papers. This guide breaks down the must-know terms for your Year 9 SQA Philosophy course, pairing each one with a simple English explanation, a clear Chinese translation, and a memory trick to lock the meaning in place. Read through steadily, and these terms will become part of your everyday thinking.

接触哲学就像学习一门新语言。这门学科充满了抽象的概念和多音节的词汇，它们经常出现在试卷中。本指南将为你拆解九年级 SQA 哲学课程中必须掌握的关键术语，每个术语都配有简单的英文解释、清晰的中文翻译以及一个记忆技巧，帮助你牢牢记住其含义。耐心通读一遍，这些术语就会成为你日常思维的一部分。

1. Philosophy | 哲学

The word 'philosophy' comes from the Greek philo (love) and sophia (wisdom). It is the love of wisdom and the systematic attempt to answer big questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. Think of philosophy as the parent subject from which science, politics, and ethics eventually grew.

“哲学”一词源于希腊语 philo（爱）和 sophia（智慧）。它是爱智慧，也是系统地尝试回答关于存在、知识、价值、理性和语言的重大问题。可以把哲学看作母学科，科学、政治学和伦理学最终都是从它发展而来的。

2. Metaphysics | 形而上学

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that investigates the fundamental nature of reality. It asks questions like 'What is there?' and 'What is it like?'. Topics include existence, objects, properties, time, space, and causality. To remember it, split the word: meta (beyond) + physics (the physical world) – it goes beyond the physical to ask what is ultimately real.

形而上学是哲学的一个分支，研究实在的基本本质。它会提出“存在什么？”和“它是什么样的？”等问题。涉及的主题包括存在、物体、属性、时间、空间和因果关系。想要记住这个词，可以把它拆分：meta（在……之后/超越）+ physics（物理世界）——它超越物理世界去追问什么才是终极的真实。

3. Epistemology | 认识论

Epistemology is the theory of knowledge. It focuses on questions about belief, truth, and justification: 'What can we know?', 'How do we know it?', and 'What does it mean to say we know something?'. Link it to 'epistemic' – a word you can imagine as an 'epic story' about knowing. The Greek root episteme means knowledge.

认识论是关于知识的理论。它聚焦于信念、真理和辩护的问题：“我们能知道什么？”“我们如何知道？”以及“说我们知道某事意味着什么？”。可以把它与‘epistemic’关联起来——你可以想象一个关于认知的‘史诗故事’（epic story）。希腊语词根 episteme 就是知识的意思。

4. Logic | 逻辑学

Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It tells you which arguments are valid and which are fallacies. An argument is a set of statements where some (premises) are meant to support another (the conclusion). Think of logic as the grammar of thought – it sets the rules for combining ideas without contradictions.

逻辑学是研究正确推理的学问。它会告诉你哪些论证是有效的，哪些是谬误。论证是一组陈述，其中一些（前提）是用来支持另一个（结论）的。可以把逻辑学想象成思维的语法——它为整合思想而不产生矛盾设定了规则。

5. Ethics (Moral Philosophy) | 伦理学（道德哲学）

Ethics is the branch that asks how we should live. It examines concepts of right and wrong, good and bad, and justice. There are three main approaches: virtue ethics (focusing on character), deontology (duty and rules), and consequentialism (judging by outcomes). Remember that 'ethics' comes from the Greek ethos, meaning character or custom.

伦理学是追问我们应当如何生活的分支。它审视对与错、好与坏以及正义等概念。主要有三种进路：美德伦理学（关注品格）、义务论（关注义务和规则）和后果论（根据结果来判断）。记住，‘ethics’来自希腊词 ethos，意思是品格或习俗。

6. Empiricism | 经验主义

Empiricism claims that all knowledge comes from sense experience. The mind starts as a blank slate (tabula rasa), and everything we know is built up from what we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. John Locke is a key empiricist. To recall this, think of 'empirical' evidence – the kind you can observe in an experiment.

广告 / Sponsored

经验主义主张所有知识都来自感觉经验。心灵最初是一块白板（tabula rasa），我们所知道的一切都是从所见、所闻、所触、所尝和所嗅中累积起来的。约翰·洛克是一位重要的经验主义者。想要回忆起这个术语，可以想想‘empirical’（经验的）证据——就是你可以在实验中观察到的那种证据。

7. Rationalism | 理性主义

Rationalism holds that reason is the primary source of knowledge, and some ideas are innate – we are born with them. Descartes is a famous rationalist; he started from the fact that he was thinking and concluded 'I think, therefore I am' (Cogito, ergo sum). Contrast it with empiricism: where empiricism says 'look and see', rationalism says 'think it through'.

理性主义认为理性是知识的主要来源，而且某些观念是天赋的——我们天生就具有它们。笛卡尔是一位著名的理性主义者；他从自己在思考这一事实出发，得出了“我思故我在”（Cogito, ergo sum）。可以把它与经验主义对照：经验主义说“去看去观察”，理性主义则说“把它想透彻”。

8. Scepticism | 怀疑论

Scepticism is the attitude of doubting knowledge claims. A philosophical sceptic doesn't just say 'I’m not sure'; they challenge whether we can ever have certain knowledge. Descartes used sceptical arguments (the evil demon, the dream argument) to see if anything could be known for certain. Think of a 'sceptic' as someone who pauses before believing, always asking 'How do you know?'.

怀疑论是一种对知识主张持怀疑态度的立场。哲学上的怀疑论者不只是说“我不确定”；他们会质疑我们究竟是否能够拥有确定的知识。笛卡尔使用怀疑论的论证（恶魔论证、梦境论证）来检验是否有任何事物能够被确知。可以把‘sceptic’想象成一个在相信之前会停下来问“你怎么知道？”的人。

9. Existentialism | 存在主义

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasises individual freedom, choice, and the meaning we create for ourselves. A key idea is that 'existence precedes essence' – you are born without a fixed nature, and you define who you are through your actions. Jean-Paul Sartre was a leading existentialist. Remember it by linking 'existence' to 'I exist, and I must decide what that means'.

存在主义是一场强调个体自由、选择以及我们为自己创造的意义的哲学运动。一个核心思想是“存在先于本质”——你出生时没有固定的本性，你通过自己的行动来定义你是谁。让-保罗·萨特是一位主要的存在主义者。可以通过把‘existence’与“我存在，并且我必须决定这到底意味着什么”联系起来加以记忆。

10. Utilitarianism | 功利主义

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that says the best action is the one that maximises overall happiness or 'utility'. It is a form of consequentialism, focused on the greatest good for the greatest number. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are its classic proponents. Use the mental image of a 'utility meter' measuring happiness – the higher the total happiness, the better the act.

功利主义是一种伦理学理论，它认为最好的行为是能够最大化总体幸福或“效用”的那个行为。它是后果论的一种形式，关注最大多数人的最大善。杰里米·边沁和约翰·斯图尔特·密尔是其经典的倡导者。可以在脑中想象一台测量幸福的“效用仪表”——总幸福越高，行为就越好。

11. Deontology | 义务论

Deontology argues that the morality of an action is based on whether it follows a moral rule or duty, regardless of the consequences. Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative is a central idea: act only according to that rule which you could will to become a universal law. The Greek root deon means duty, so deontology is literally the 'study of duty'.

义务论认为，一个行为的道德性取决于它是否遵循了道德规则或义务，而不论其结果如何。伊曼努尔·康德的定言命令是其核心思想：只依据那些你能够同时愿意它成为普遍法则的准则去行动。希腊语词根 deon 意为义务，因此义务论字面意思就是“关于义务的学问”。

12. Dualism | 二元论

Dualism is the view that the mind and the body are two distinct substances. The mental is non-physical, while the body is physical. Descartes famously defended substance dualism, arguing that the mind can exist independently of the body. A simple memory hook: 'two' in dualism points to two kinds of stuff – mind and matter.

二元论认为心灵和身体是两种不同的实体。心理的东西是非物质的，而身体是物质的。笛卡尔以捍卫实体二元论而闻名，他主张心灵可以独立于身体而存在。一个简单的记忆线索：‘dualism’ 中的 ‘dual’ 指向两种东西——心灵和物质。

Published by TutorHao | SQA Philosophy Revision Series | aleveler.com

更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）