Philosophy of life

The Philosophy of Life encompasses a broad range of concepts and questions about the essence, purpose, and meaning of life. It is a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of life, existential questions, and the values that guide individuals and societies. This philosophical discipline intersects with metaphysics, ethics, and ontology, offering diverse perspectives on what constitutes a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Key Concepts

• Existentialism - A philosophical theory focusing on individual freedom, choice, and existence. It emphasizes the individual as the creator of their own meaning in an inherently meaningless world.
• Hedonism - The belief that pleasure and happiness are the highest goods and the ultimate aims of life. Hedonists prioritize experiences that bring joy and satisfaction.
• Stoicism - A philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. Stoicism values wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.
• Utilitarianism - A theory in normative ethics holding that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, generally defined as maximizing happiness and reducing suffering.
• Nihilism - The philosophical viewpoint that suggests that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.

Philosophies Across Cultures

Philosophy of life is not limited to Western thought but is a global dialogue that includes Eastern philosophies and indigenous worldviews. Each culture brings its unique perspective on life, contributing to a rich tapestry of understanding.

• Buddhism - Emphasizes the elimination of suffering through the Eightfold Path. Buddhism teaches the concepts of impermanence, non-attachment, and enlightenment.
• Confucianism - Focuses on moral virtues and the importance of family and social harmony. It advocates for a life of righteousness, propriety, and wisdom.
• Taoism - Stresses living in harmony with the Tao, or the fundamental nature of the universe. It values simplicity, spontaneity, and compassion.

Living According to Philosophy

Incorporating philosophical principles into daily life can provide guidance, moral direction, and a sense of purpose. Individuals may draw on one or multiple philosophies to shape their worldview, ethical decisions, and their approach to life's challenges.

Glossary

• Existence - The state or fact of living or having objective reality.
• Meaning of Life - The significance, purpose, or value of human existence as interpreted by individuals or cultures.
• Ethics - A branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.
• Metaphysics - The branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, substance and attribute, and potentiality and actuality.
• Ontology - A subfield of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being.
• Enlightenment (spiritual) - A state of full comprehension of a situation, often associated with achieving insight into the true nature of reality in various religious traditions.
• Impermanence - The philosophical concept that all conditioned existence is transient, evanescent, and inconstant.

More terms

• abolitionism -  the doctrine that calls for the abolition of slavery
• abstinence -  act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite; the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
• affair -  a vaguely specified social event; a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship; a vaguely specified concern
• afterthought -  an addition that was not included in the original plan; thinking again about a choice previously made
• agreeableness -  a temperamental disposition to be agreeable; pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions
• alpha wave -  the normal brainwave in the electroencephalogram of a person who is awake but relaxed; occurs with a frequency of 8-12 hertz
• alter ego -  a very close and trusted friend who seems almost a part of yourself
• altruism -  the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
• ambivalence -  mixed feelings or emotions
• amelia -  congenital absence of an arm or leg
• amish -  an American follower of the Mennonite religion
• amorality -  the quality of being amoral
• anamnesis -  the ability to recall past occurrences; the case history of a medical patient as recalled by the patient
• anarchism -  a political theory favoring the abolition of governments
• anathema -  a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication; a detested person
• angst -  an acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety; usually reserved for philosophical anxiety about the world or about personal freedom
• animal magnetism -  magnetic personal charm
• animism -  the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls
• anthropocentrism -  an inclination to evaluate reality exclusively in terms of human values
• anthropology -  the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings
• apathy -  the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally; an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
• aphorism -  a short pithy instructive saying
• arbitrariness -  the trait of acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgment
• argentina -  type genus of the Argentinidae: argentines; a republic in southern South America; second largest country in South America
• aristotle -  one of the greatest of the ancient Athenian philosophers; pupil of Plato; teacher of Alexander the Great (384-322 BC)
• arthur schopenhauer -  German pessimist philosopher (1788-1860)
• artist -  a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
• ashram -  (India) a place of religious retreat for Hindus; a place of religious retreat modeled after the Indian ashram
• ashtray -  a receptacle for the ash from smokers' cigars or cigarettes
• asymmetry -  (mathematics) a lack of symmetry
• ataraxia -  peace of mind
• atheism -  a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods; the doctrine or belief that there is no God
• au pair -  a young foreigner who lives with a family in return for doing light housework
• auguste comte -  French philosopher remembered as the founder of positivism; he also established sociology as a systematic field of study
• austin -  state capital of Texas on the Colorado River; site of the University of Texas
• autarky -  economic independence as a national policy
• authenticity -  undisputed credibility
• autogenic training -  training patients in self-induced relaxation
• autonomy -  immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence; personal independence
• autosuggestion -  hypnosis induced by yourself
• averroes -  Arabian philosopher born in Spain; wrote detailed commentaries on Aristotle that were admired by the Schoolmen (1126-1198)
• axiology -  the study of values and value judgments
• backpack -  a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder; verb hike with a backpack
• baksheesh -  a relatively small amount of money given for services rendered (as by a waiter)
• barter -  an equal exchange; verb exchange goods without involving money
• bath mat -  a heavy towel or mat to stand on while drying yourself after a bath
• beau monde -  the fashionable elite
• bedder -  an ornamental plant suitable for planting in a flowerbed
• being -  the state or fact of existing; a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
• belfast -  capital and largest city of Northern Ireland; the center of Protestantism in Northern Ireland
• belgium -  a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• belief -  any cognitive content held as true; a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
• bernstein -  United States conductor and composer (1918-1990)
• bertrand russell -  English philosopher and mathematician who collaborated with Whitehead (1872-1970)
• betrayal -  the quality of aiding an enemy; an act of deliberate betrayal
• bhakti -  (Hinduism) loving devotion to a deity leading to salvation and Nirvana; open to all persons independent of caste or sex
• bioethics -  the branch of ethics that studies moral values in the biomedical sciences
• blind date -  a date with a stranger; a participant in a blind date (someone you meet for the first time when you have a date with them)
• boasting -  speaking of yourself in superlatives
• bodywork -  the work of making or repairing vehicle bodies; the exterior body of a motor vehicle
• boffin -  (British slang) a scientist or technician engaged in military research
• bohemianism -  conduct characteristic of a bohemian
• boredom -  the feeling of being bored by something tedious
• bosh -  pretentious or silly talk or writing
• bottle opener -  an opener for removing caps or corks from bottles
• boyfriend -  a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
• brigid -  Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523)
• brink -  the edge of a steep place; a region marking a boundary; the limit beyond which something happens or changes
• brotherly love -  a kindly and lenient attitude toward people
• buckminster fuller -  United States architect who invented the geodesic dome (1895-1983)
• california -  a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
• calmness -  a feeling of calm; an absence of agitation or excitement; an absence of strong winds or rain; steadiness of mind under stress
• can opener -  a device for cutting cans open
• canon law -  the body of codified laws governing the affairs of a Christian church
• capitalism -  an economic system based on private ownership of capital
• carton -  a box made of cardboard; opens by flaps on top; the quantity contained in a carton
• categorical imperative -  the moral principle that behavior should be determined by duty
• censure -  harsh criticism or disapproval; the state of being excommunicated; verb rebuke formally
• certainty -  something that is certain; the state of being certain
• character assassination -  an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation
• charisma -  a personal attractiveness or interestingness that enables you to influence others
• charles baudelaire -  a French poet noted for macabre imagery and evocative language (1821-1867)
• charles fourier -  French sociologist and reformer who hoped to achieve universal harmony by reorganizing society (1772-1837)
• charles kay ogden -  English psychologist who collaborated with I. A. Richards in designing Basic English (1889-1957)
• charwoman -  a human female who does housework
• chastity -  abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows); morality with respect to sexual relations
• cheating -  violating accepted standards or rules; not faithful to a spouse or lover;  a deception for profit to yourself
• child care -  a service involving care for other people's children
• chosen people -  any people believing themselves to be chosen by God
• cleaner -  someone whose occupation is cleaning; the operator of dry-cleaning establishment; a preparation used in cleaning something
• clothes hanger -  a hanger that is shaped like a person's shoulders and used to hang garments on
• clothespin -  wood or plastic fastener; for holding clothes on a clothesline
• coat rack -  a rack with hooks for temporarily holding coats and hats
• cohabitation -  the act of living together and having a sexual relationship (especially without being married)
• collecting -  the act of gathering something together
• commentator -  a writer who reports and analyzes events of the day; an expert who observes and comments on something
• common good -  the good of a community
• concept -  an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
• conduit -  a passage (a pipe or tunnel) through which water or electric wires can pass
• consent -  permission to do something; verb give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
• conspicuous consumption -  buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth
• consummation -  the act of bringing to completion or fruition; the completion of marriage by sexual intercourse
• contemplation -  a long and thoughtful observation; a calm lengthy intent consideration
• contentment -  happiness with one's situation in life
• control freak -  someone with a compulsive desire to exert control over situations and people
• conventionalism -  orthodoxy as a consequence of being conventional
• cooking -  the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
• cooperation -  the practice of cooperating; joint operation or action
• cooperativeness -  the trait of being cooperative
• corkscrew -  a bottle opener that pulls corks; verb move in a spiral or zigzag course
• cougar -  large American feline resembling a lion
• courage -  a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
• courtly love -  (Middle Ages) a highly conventionalized code of conduct for lovers
• courtship -  a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)
• crass -  (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility
• crime -  (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; an evil act not necessarily punishable by law
• cuddling -  affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
• cupboard love -  a show of affection motivated by selfishness
• cycling -  the sport of traveling on a bicycle or motorcycle
• cynicism -  a cynical feeling of distrust
• dating -  use of chemical analysis to estimate the age of geological specimens
• deadly sin -  an unpardonable sin entailing a total loss of grace
• decadence -  the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities
• dehumanization -  the act of degrading people with respect to their best qualities
• diary -  a personal journal (as a physical object); a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations
• dick -  someone who is a detective; obscene terms for penis
• dignity -  the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; formality in bearing and appearance; high office or rank or station
• diogenes -  an ancient Greek philosopher and Cynic who rejected social conventions (circa 400-325 BC)
• disambiguation -  clarification that follows from the removal of ambiguity
• discontinuity -  lack of connection or continuity
• disgust -  strong feelings of dislike; verb cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of; fill with distaste
• dishcloth -  a cloth for washing dishes
• dishwasher detergent -  a low-sudsing detergent designed for use in dishwashers
• dishwasher -  a machine for washing dishes; someone who washes dishes
• dishwashing liquid -  a low-sudsing detergent designed for use in dishwashers
• dishwashing -  the act of washing dishes
• do-it-yourself -  done by yourself
• doctrine -  a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
• dogma -  a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative; a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
• doily -  a small round piece of linen place under a dish or bowl
• don marquis -  humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
• dousing -  the act of wetting something by submerging it
• dublin -  capital and largest city and major port of the Irish Free State
• dugald stewart -  Scottish philosopher and follower of Thomas Reid (1753-1828)
• duration -  continuance in time; the property of enduring or continuing in time; the period of time during which something continues
• eating disorder -  a disorder of the normal eating routine
• economic theory -  (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)
• ecstasy -  a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion; a state of elated bliss; street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine
• edmund husserl -  German philosopher who developed phenomenology (1859-1938)
• egalitarianism -  the doctrine of the equality of mankind and the desirability of political and economic and social equality
• egghead -  an intellectual; a very studious and academic person
• ego ideal -  (psychoanalysis) the part of the ego that contains an ideal of personal excellence toward which a person strives
• egocentrism -  concern for your own interests and welfare
• egoism -  concern for your own interests and welfare; (ethics) the theory that the pursuit of your own welfare in the basis of morality
• egomania -  an intense and irresistible love for yourself and concern for your own needs
• egotism -  an exaggerated opinion of your own importance; an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others
• either - adv. after a negative statement used as an intensive meaning something like `likewise' or `also'
• elbow room -  space for movement
• elitism -  the attitude that society should be governed by an elite group of individuals
• emancipation -  freeing someone from the control of another; especially a parent's relinquishing authority and control over a minor child
• emotion -  any strong feeling
• empathy -  understanding and entering into another's feelings
• emptiness -  having an empty stomach; the state of containing nothing; the quality of being valueless or futile; an empty area or space
• enabling -  providing legal power or sanction
• entitlement -  right granted by law or contract (especially a right to benefits)
• environmentalist -  someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution
• epictetus -  Greek philosopher who was a Stoic (circa 50-130)
• epicureanism -  a doctrine of hedonism that was defended by several ancient Greek philosophers
• epiphany -  a divine manifestation; twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus
• equal opportunity -  the right to equivalent opportunities for employment regardless of race or color or sex or national origin
• equanimity -  steadiness of mind under stress
• eros -  (Greek mythology) god of love; son of Aphrodite; identified with Roman Cupid; a desire for sexual intimacy
• escapism -  an inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy
• ethical code -  a system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct
• ethicist -  a philosopher who specializes in ethics
• ethics committee -  a committee appointed to consider ethical issues
• ethics -  the philosophical study of moral values and rules; motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
• ethnocentrism -  belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group
• ethologist -  a zoologist who studies the behavior of animals in their natural habitats
• etui -  small ornamental ladies' bag for small articles
• eudaimonia -  a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
• euphoria -  a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation
• euphrosyne -  (Greek mythology) one of the three Graces
• eurocentrism -  belief in the preeminence of Europe and the Europeans
• eurythmy -  the interpretation in harmonious bodily movements of the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understanding
• euthanasia -  the act of killing someone painlessly (especially someone suffering from an incurable illness)
• evangelicalism -  stresses the importance of personal conversion and faith as the means of salvation
• evangelism -  zealous preaching and advocacy of the gospel
• extended order -  a military formation for skirmishing; as widely separated as the tactical situation permits
• extraterrestrial being -  a form of life assumed to exist outside the Earth or its atmosphere
• extremism -  any political theory favoring immoderate uncompromising policies
• fabric -  artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; the underlying structure
• face-to-face -  in each other's presence; adv. within each other's presence; directly facing each other
• facial tissue -  tissue paper suitable for use on the face
• factory -  a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
• faithfulness -  the quality of being faithful
• fakir -  a Muslim or Hindu mendicant monk who is regarded as a holy man
• fall guy -  a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
• fandom -  the fans of a sport or famous person
• fasting -  abstaining from food
• female bonding -  the formation of a close personal relationship between women
• flashlight -  a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
• flirting -  playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest
• footman -  a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
• forgiveness -  the act of excusing a mistake or offense; compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive
• formality -  compliance with formal rules; a manner that strictly observes all forms and ceremonies; a requirement of etiquette or custom
• francis bacon -  English statesman and philosopher; precursor of British empiricism; advocated inductive reasoning (1561-1626)
• free thought -  the form of theological rationalism that believes in God on the basis of reason without reference to revelation
• free will -  the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies
• free-range -  of livestock and domestic poultry; permitted to graze or forage rather than being confined to a feedlot
• friendship -  the state of being friends
• frigg -  (Norse mythology) goddess of the heavens and married love; wife of Odin
• frugality -  prudence in avoiding waste
• furniture -  furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
• gael -  a Gaelic-speaking Celt in Ireland or Scotland or the Isle of Man
• gautama buddha -  founder of Buddhism; worshipped as a god (c 563-483 BC)
• gaze -  a long fixed look; verb look at with fixed eyes
• gentleness -  acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered; the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual
• george berkeley -  Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop who opposed the materialism of Thomas Hobbes (1685-1753)
• gift wrapping -  ornamental wrapping for gifts
• girlfriend -  a girl or young woman with whom a man is romantically involved; any female friend
• glasgow -  largest city in Scotland; a port on the Clyde in west central Scotland; one of the great shipbuilding centers of the world
• glee club -  a club organized to sing together
• glossolalia -  repetitive nonmeaningful speech (especially that associated with a trance state or religious fervor)
• gnosis -  intuitive knowledge of spiritual truths; said to have been possessed by ancient Gnostics
• gnostic -  possessing intellectual or esoteric knowledge of spiritual things; of or relating to Gnosticism;  an advocate of Gnosticism
• goldman -  United States anarchist (born in Russia) who opposed conscription; was deported to the Soviet Union in 1919 (1869-1940)
• good faith -  having honest intentions
• governess -  a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
• grandiosity -  high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation
• gratification -  the act or an instance of satisfying; state of being gratified; great satisfaction
• great falls -  a town in central Montana on the Missouri river; a center of extensive hydroelectric power
• groping -  acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence
• groupie -  an enthusiastic young fan (especially a young woman who follows rock groups around)
• guilt by association -  the attribution of guilt (without proof) to individuals because the people they associate with are guilty
• guilt trip -  remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offence
• guilt -  remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offence; the state of having committed an offense
• gymnosophy -  the doctrine of a sect of Hindu philosophers who practiced nudity and asceticism and meditation
• haecceity -  the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other
• hairbrush -  a brush used to groom a person's hair
• handbag -  a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
• handmaiden -  a personal maid or female attendant; in a subordinate position
• handyman -  a man skilled in various odd jobs and other small tasks
• hannah arendt -  United States historian and political philosopher (born in Germany) (1906-1975)
• hardline -  firm and uncompromising
• hatred -  the emotion of hate; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
• henry david thoreau -  United States writer and social critic (1817-1862)
• herbert spencer -  English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
• hermit -  one who lives in solitude; one retired from society for religious reasons
• hestia -  (Greek mythology) the goddess of the hearth and its fire in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Vesta
• heterosexuality -  a sexual attraction to (or sexual relations with) persons of the opposite sex
• hippie -  someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle
• hoarding -  large outdoor signboard
• hobson's choice -  the choice of taking what is offered or nothing at all
• home economics -  theory and practice of homemaking
• homemaking -  the management of a household
• hot-rod -  a car modified to increase its speed and acceleration
• housekeeper -  a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
• housekeeping -  the work of cleaning and running a house
• housewife -  a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income
• hubris -  overbearing pride or presumption
• hula -  a Polynesian rain dance performed by a woman
• humanitarianism -  the doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare
• humanity -  the quality of being humane; all of the living human inhabitants of the earth; the quality of being human
• humility -  a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride; a humble feeling
• hungary -  a republic in central Europe
• hypnotherapy -  the use of hypnosis in psychotherapy
• hypothetical imperative -  a principle stating the action required to attain a desired goal
• ignorance -  the lack of knowledge or education
• immanuel kant -  influential German idealist philosopher (1724-1804)
• immorality -  the quality of not being in accord with standards of right or good conduct; morally objectionable behavior
• impermanence -  the property of not existing for indefinitely long durations
• inappropriateness -  the quality of being not particularly suitable or befitting; inappropriate conduct
• incontinence -  involuntary urination or defecation; indiscipline with regard to sensuous pleasures
• incorporeality -  the quality of not being physical; not consisting of matter
• individuation -  the quality of being individual; discriminating the individual from the generic group or species
• infidel -  a person who does not acknowledge your god
• infidelity -  the quality of being unfaithful
• information system -  system consisting of the network of all communication channels used within an organization
• injustice -  an unjust act; the practice of being unjust or unfair
• intellectualization -  (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict
• intelligentsia -  an educated and intellectual elite
• intelligibility -  the quality of language that is comprehensible
• intentionality -  expressive of intentions
• internalization -  learning (of values or attitudes etc.) that is incorporated within yourself
• international affairs -  affairs between nations
• interstellar -  between or among stars
• intuition -  instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes); an impression that something might be the case
• iris murdoch -  British writer (born in Ireland) known primarily for her novels (1919-1999)
• ironing board -  narrow padded board on collapsible supports; used for ironing clothes
• irreligion -  the quality of not being devout
• ismailism -  the branch of Shiism noted for its esoteric philosophy
• jacques derrida -  French philosopher and critic (born in Algeria); exponent of deconstructionism (1930-2004)
• jane jacobs -  United States writer and critic of urban planning (born in 1916)
• jealousy -  zealous vigilance; a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)
• jeremy bentham -  English philosopher and jurist; founder of utilitarianism (1748-1831)
• joachim -  Hungarian violinist and composer (1831-1907)
• john stuart mill -  English philosopher and economist remembered for his interpretations of empiricism and utilitarianism (1806-1873)
• joie de vivre -  a keen enjoyment of living
• jorge luis borges -  Argentinian writer remembered for his short stories (1899-1986)
• joseph conrad -  English novelist (born in Poland) noted for sea stories and for his narrative technique (1857-1924)
• kama -  god of love and erotic desire; opposite of Mara
• karl jaspers -  German psychiatrist (1883-1969)
• karl marx -  founder of modern communism; wrote the Communist Manifesto with Engels in 1848; wrote Das Kapital in 1867 (1818-1883)
• karma -  (Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation
• kava -  an alcoholic drink made from the aromatic roots of the kava shrub
• kindness -  a kind act; the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic; tendency to be kind and forgiving
• koan -  a paradoxical anecdote or a riddle that has no solution; used in Zen Buddhism to show the inadequacy of logical reasoning
• lackey -  a male servant (especially a footman); a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
• lady's maid -  a maid who is a lady's personal attendant
• lagniappe -  a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
• laissez-faire -  with minimally restricted freedom in commerce
• lama -  llamas; a Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism
• lateral thinking -  a heuristic for solving problems; you try to look at the problem from many angles instead of tackling it head-on
• latria -  the worship given to God alone
• laughter -  the activity of laughing; the manifestation of joy or mirth or scorn; the sound of laughing
• laundry -  workplace where clothes are washed and ironed; garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
• legalism -  strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than its spirit
• leo tolstoy -  Russian author remembered for two great novels (1828-1910)
• letter of intent -  any letter expressing an intention to take (or forgo) some action
• letter opener -  dull knife used to cut open the envelopes in which letters are mailed or to slit uncut pages of books
• libertarianism -  an ideological belief in freedom of thought and speech
• libertine -  unrestrained by convention or morality;  a dissolute person; usually a man who is morally unrestrained
• life line -  a crease on the palm; its length is said by palmists to indicate how long you will live
• lifestyle -  a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes
• lingam -  the Hindu phallic symbol of Siva
• lithuania -  a republic in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea
• localism -  a phrase or pronunciation that is peculiar to a particular locality; a partiality for some particular place
• logos -  the divine word of God; the second person in the Trinity (incarnate in Jesus)
• louis -  United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight campion for 12 years (1914-1981)
• love letter -  a personal letter to a loved one expressing affection
• love-song -  a song about love or expressing love for another person
• luce -  United States playwright and public official (1902-1987); United States publisher of magazines (1898-1967)
• lucretius -  Roman philosopher and poet; in a long didactic poem he tried to provide a scientific explanation of the universe (96-55 BC)
• lying -  given to lying;  the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
• macau -  a former Portuguese province on the south coast of China and two islands in the South China Sea; reverted to China in 1999
• madia -  genus of sticky herbs with yellow flowers open in morning or evening but closed in bright light
• maid -  an unmarried girl (especially a virgin); a female domestic
• male bonding -  the formation of a close personal relationship between men
• malice -  feeling a need to see others suffer; the quality of threatening evil
• manservant -  a man servant
• manuscript -  the form of a literary work submitted for publication; handwritten book or document
• mao zedong -  Chinese communist leader (1893-1976)
• marginal utility -  (economics) the amount that utility increases with an increase of one unit of an economic good or service
• marquis de condorcet -  French mathematician and philosopher (1743-1794)
• marquis de sade -  French soldier and writer whose descriptions of sexual perversion gave rise to the term `sadism' (1740-1814)
• marquis -  nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count; humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
• matsyendra -  (Hinduism) a religious posture
• meaning -  rich in significance or implication;  the idea that is intended; the message that is intended or expressed or signified
• meekness -  a disposition to be patient and long suffering; the feeling of patient submissive humbleness
• meister eckhart -  German Roman Catholic theologian and mystic (1260-1327)
• mendicant -  practicing beggary;  a pauper who lives by begging; a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms
• mental reservation -  an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly
• mentalism -  (philosophy) a doctrine that mind is the true reality and that objects exist only as aspects of the mind's awareness
• mermaid -  half woman and half fish; lives in the sea
• merman -  half man and half fish; lives in the sea; United States singer who appeared in several musical comedies (1909-1984)
• metaphysics -  the philosophical study of being and knowing
• metro -  an electric railway operating below the surface of the ground (usually in a city)
• mexico -  a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
• mikhail bakunin -  Russian anarchist; ally and later opponent of Karl Marx (1814-1876)
• mindfulness -  the trait of staying aware of (paying close attention to) your responsibilities
• minimalism -  an art movement in sculpture and painting that began in the 1950s and emphasized extreme simplification of form and color
• misanthropy -  a disposition to dislike and mistrust other people; hatred of mankind
• misology -  hatred of reasoning
• modesty -  formality and propriety of manner; freedom from vanity or conceit
• monism -  the doctrine that reality consists of a single basic substance or element
• montana -  a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border
• moralism -  judgments about another person's morality; a moral maxim
• morality play -  an allegorical play popular in the 15th and 16th centuries; characters personified virtues and vices
• mores -  (sociology) the conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group
• mormonism -  the doctrines and practices of the Mormon Church based on the Book of Mormon
• musician -  artist who composes or conducts music as a profession; someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)
• mutualism -  the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other
• mysticism -  obscure or irrational thought; a religion based on mystical communion with an ultimate reality
• mythology -  the study of myths; myths collectively; the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or person
• nagging -  continually complaining or faultfinding
• nanny -  female goat; a woman who is the custodian of children
• narcissism -  an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
• natural law -  a rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
• natural order -  the physical universe considered as an orderly system subject to natural (not human or supernatural) laws
• nature worship -  a system of religion that deifies and worships natural forces and phenomena
• naturism -  going without clothes as a social practice
• neoliberalism -  a political orientation originating in the 1960s; blends liberal political views with an emphasis on economic growth
• nerd -  an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or studying excessively
• no-frills -  characterized by the absence of inessential features
• noam chomsky -  United States linguist whose theory of generative grammar redefined the field of linguistics (born 1928)
• norm -  a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical; a statistic describing the location of a distribution
• normative -  relating to or dealing with norms; pertaining to giving directives or rules
• north yorkshire -  a county in northern England
• nothing - adv. in no way; to no degree;  a nonexistent thing; a quantity of no importance
• noumenon -  the intellectual conception of a thing as it is in itself, not as it is known through perception
• nous -  common sense; that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason
• novena -  a Roman Catholic devotion consisting of prayers on nine consecutive days
• nowness -  the quality of being the present
• numerology -  the study of the supposed occult influence of numbers on human affairs
• numinous -  evincing the presence of a deity; of or relating to or characteristic of a numen
• nursemaid -  a woman who is the custodian of children
• nylon -  a synthetic fabric; a thermoplastic polyamide; a family of strong resilient synthetic fibers
• objectification -  the act of representing an abstraction as a physical thing; a concrete representation of an abstract idea or principle
• objectivity -  judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices
• obscurantism -  a deliberate act intended to make something obscure; a policy of opposition to enlightenment or the spread of knowledge
• ombudsman -  a government appointee who investigates complaints by private persons against the government
• omnipotence -  the state of being omnipotent; having unlimited power
• open society -  a society that allows its members considerable freedom (as in a democracy)
• optimism -  a general disposition to expect the best in all things; the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well
• originalism -  the belief that the United States Constitution should be interpreted in the way the authors originally intended it
• ortega y gasset -  Spanish philosopher who advocated leadership by an intellectual elite (1883-1955)
• papal infallibility -  belief of the Roman Catholic Church that God protects the pope from error when he speaks about faith or morality
• paper bag -  a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
• paper towel -  a disposable towel made of absorbent paper
• paralanguage -  the use of manner of speaking to communicate particular meanings
• paranormal -  not in accordance with scientific laws; seemingly outside normal sensory channels
• paternalism -  the attitude (of a person or a government) that subordinates should be controlled in a fatherly way for their own good
• patience -  good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence; a card game played by one person
• paul tillich -  United States theologian (born in Germany) (1886-1965)
• pen pal -  a person you come to know by frequent friendly correspondence
• pencil sharpener -  a rotary implement for sharpening the point on pencils
• penknife -  a small pocketknife; originally used to cut quill pens
• perfectionism -  a disposition to feel that anything less than perfect is unacceptable
• periodical -  happening or recurring at regular intervals;  a publication that appears at fixed intervals
• permission -  approval to do something; the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization
• person -  a human being; a human body (usually including the clothing); a grammatical category of pros and verb forms
• personhood -  being a person
• philia -  a positive feeling of liking
• philistinism -  a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters
• philosopher -  a specialist in philosophy; a wise person who is calm and rational; someone who lives a life of reason with equanimity
• philosophical theory -  a doctrine accepted by adherents to a philosophy
• physician -  a licensed medical practitioner
• piety -  righteousness by virtue of being pious
• plato -  ancient Athenian philosopher; pupil of Socrates; teacher of Aristotle (428-347 BC)
• platonism -  (philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their names
• plotinus -  Roman philosopher (born in Egypt) who was the leading representative of Neoplatonism (205-270)
• plutocracy -  a political system governed by the wealthy people
• pneumatic -  of or relating to or using air (or a similar gas)
• poem -  a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
• poet -  a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
• point of view -  the spatial property of the position from which something is observed; a mental position from which things are viewed
• political party -  an organization to gain political power
• political science -  the study of government of states and other political units
• prat -  the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
• praxis -  translating an idea into action
• precognition -  knowledge of an event before it occurs
• prestige -  a high standing achieved through success or influence or wealth etc.
• prima donna -  a distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star; a vain and temperamental person
• prima facie -  as it seems at first sight; adv. at first sight
• professor -  someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
• prophecy -  knowledge of the future (usually said to be obtained from a divine source); a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
• psychologist -  a scientist trained in psychology
• psychology -  the science of mental life
• punishment -  the act of punishing
• queen bee -  fertile egg-laying female bee
• quietism -  a form of religious mysticism requiring withdrawal from all human effort and passive contemplation of God
• quixotism -  quixotic (romantic and impractical) behavior
• radicalism -  the political orientation of those who favor revolutionary change in government and society
• ralph ellison -  United States novelist who wrote about a young Black man and his struggles in American society (1914-1994)
• ralph waldo emerson -  United States writer and leading exponent of transcendentalism (1803-1882)
• rampart -  an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
• rapper -  someone who performs rap music; a device (usually metal and ornamental) attached by a hinge to a door
• rationality -  the quality of being consistent with or based on logic; the state of having good sense and sound judgment
• ravi shankar -  Indian sitar player who popularized classical Indian music in the West (born in 1920)
• receptivity -  willingness or readiness to receive (especially impressions or ideas)
• reciprocity -  mutual exchange of commercial or other privileges; a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence
• reformism -  a doctrine of reform
• relic -  an antiquity that has survived from the distant past; something of sentimental value
• remarriage -  the act of marrying again
• res publica -  a politically organized body of people under a single government
• richard wright -  United States writer whose work is concerned with the oppression of African Americans (1908-1960)
• righteousness -  adhering to moral principles
• rive - verb separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument; tear or be torn violently
• roads -  a partly sheltered anchorage
• rodomontade -  vain and empty boasting
• romania -  a Balkan republic in southeastern Europe
• samuel beckett -  a playwright and novelist (born in Ireland) who lived in France; wrote plays for the theater of the absurd (1906-1989)
• sana -  the capital and largest city of Yemen; on the central plateau
• schadenfreude -  delight in another person's misfortune
• schmidt -  German statesman who served as chancellor of Germany (born in 1918)
• science -  a particular branch of scientific knowledge; ability to produce solutions in some problem domain
• scienter - adv. deliberately or knowingly
• self acceptance -  an acceptance of yourself as you are, warts and all
• self-awareness -  awareness of your own individuality
• self-cultivation -  the process of educating yourself
• self-deception -  a misconception that is favorable to the person who holds it
• self-discovery -  discovering your own individuality
• self-esteem -  a feeling of pride in yourself; the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
• self-fulfillment -  the fulfillment of your capacities
• self-hypnosis -  hypnosis induced by yourself
• self-love -  an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself; feelings of excessive pride
• self-realization -  the fulfillment of your capacities
• selfishness -  stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
• semantics -  the study of language meaning
• sentiment -  tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion; a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
• serendipity -  good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
• seriousness -  the trait of being serious; the quality of arousing fear or distress; an earnest and sincere feeling
• servant -  a person working in the service of another (especially in the household); in a subordinate position
• seven -  being one more than six;  the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
• sewing -  joining or attaching by stitches; needlework on which you are working with needle and thread
• sexual desire -  a desire for sexual intimacy
• sexual harassment -  unwelcome sexual behavior by a supervisor toward an employee
• sexual practice -  activities associated with sexual intercourse
• shakers -  a celibate and communistic Christian sect in the United States
• shoehorn -  a device used for easing the foot into a shoe; verb make fit for a specific purpose
• shortcut -  a route shorter than the usual one
• shunning -  deliberately avoiding; keeping away from or preventing from happening
• sign of the cross -  a gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by Catholics as a profession of faith
• significant other -  a person (not necessarily a spouse) with whom you cohabit and share a long-term sexual relationship
• simone de beauvoir -  French feminist and existentialist and novelist (1908-1986)
• simone weil -  French philosopher (1909-1943)
• skeptic -  someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
• slipcover -  a removable fitted cloth covering for upholstered furniture
• snob -  a person regarded as arrogant and annoying
• soap dish -  a bathroom or kitchen fixture for holding a bar of soap
• social democracy -  the belief in a gradual transition from capitalism to socialism by democratic means
• social science -  the branch of science that studies society and the relationships of individual within a society
• sociology -  the study and classification of human societies
• socrates -  ancient Athenian philosopher; teacher of Plato and Xenophon (470-399 BC)
• solipsism -  (philosophy) the philosophical theory that the self is all that you know to exist
• solomon -  (Old Testament) son of David and king of Israel noted for his wisdom (10th century BC)
• something -  a thing of some kind
• spain -  a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
• spatula -  a hand tool with a thin flexible blade used to mix or spread soft substances; a turner with a narrow flexible blade
• spirit world -  any imaginary place where spiritual beings (demons or fairies or angels or the like) abide
• spiritual leader -  a leader in religious or sacred affairs
• spirituality -  concern with things of the spirit; property or income owned by a church
• spite -  malevolence by virtue of being malicious or spiteful or nasty; feeling a need to see others suffer; verb hurt the feelings of
• splitting -  resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree
• sportsmanship -  fairness in following the rules of the game
• stella -  United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
• stellar -  being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars; indicating the most important performer or role
• stewardship -  the position of steward
• stigmata -  marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Christ
• stumbling block -  any obstacle or impediment
• subculture -  a social group within a national culture that has distinctive patterns of behavior and beliefs
• sufism -  Islamic mysticism
• suicide -  the act of killing yourself; a person who kills himself intentionally
• supererogation -  an effort above and beyond the call of duty
• superiority complex -  an exaggerated estimate of your own value and importance
• supremacism -  the belief that some particular group or race is superior to all others
• swampy -  (of soil) soft and watery
• synchronicity -  the relation that exists when things occur at the same time
• synecdoche -  substituting a more inclusive term for a less inclusive one or vice versa
• taal -  an official language of the Republic of South Africa; closely related to Dutch and Flemish
• tableware -  articles for use at the table (dishes and silverware and glassware)
• tabula rasa -  a young mind not yet affected by experience (according to John Locke); an opportunity to start over without prejudice
• tai chi -  a Chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation and balance and health
• tantrum -  a display of bad temper
• team -  two or more draft animals that work together to pull something; a cooperative unit; verb form a team
• teetotalism -  abstaining from alcohol
• teleology -  (philosophy) a doctrine explaining phenomena by their ends or purposes
• tempo -  (music) the speed at which a composition is to be played; the rate of some repeating event
• terrycloth -  a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes
• texas -  the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico
• theologian -  someone who is learned in theology or who speculates about theology
• theosophy -  a system of belief based on mystical insight into the nature of God and the soul
• third eye -  a sensory structure capable of light reception located on the dorsal side of the diencephalon in various reptiles
• thomas carlyle -  Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution (1795-1881)
• thomas hardy -  English novelist and poet (1840-1928)
• thomas mann -  German writer concerned about the role of the artist in bourgeois society (1875-1955)
• thomism -  the comprehensive theological doctrine created by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century and still taught by the Dominicans
• toilet paper -  a soft thin absorbent paper for use in toilets
• toothbrush -  small brush; has long handle; used to clean teeth; slang for a mustache
• top billing -  the advertisement of a star's name at the top of a theatrical poster
• total depravity -  the Calvinist doctrine that everyone is born in a state of corruption as a result of original sin
• towel -  a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping; verb wipe with a towel
• tradition -  an inherited pattern of thought or action; a specific practice of long standing
• transcendentalism -  any system of philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical and material
• treatise -  a formal exposition
• tricolour -  a flag having three colored stripes (especially the French flag)
• tristan tzara -  French poet (born in Romania) who was one of the cofounders of the dada movement (1896-1963)
• uniqueness -  the quality of being one of a kind
• urbana -  a university town in east central Illinois adjoining Champaign
• utopian socialism -  socialism achieved by voluntary sacrifice
• valet -  a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer; verb serve as a personal attendant to
• van wyck brooks -  United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)
• vegetarianism -  a diet excluding all meat and fish
• velleity -  volition in its weakest form; a mere wish, unaccompanied by effort to obtain
• veneration -  religious zeal; the willingness to serve God; a profound emotion inspired by a deity
• verve -  an energetic style
• vice -  a specific form of evildoing; moral weakness
• victimless crime -  an act that is legally a crime but that seem to have no victims
• vocation -  the particular occupation for which you are trained; a body of people doing the same kind of work
• voltaire -  French writer who was the embodiment of 18th century Enlightenment (1694-1778)
• wallet -  a pocket-size case for holding papers and paper money
• washerwoman -  a working woman who takes in washing
• website -  a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web
• welcome mat -  a mat placed outside an exterior door for wiping the shoes before entering
• werewolf -  a monster able to change appearance from human to wolf
• william james -  United States pragmatic philosopher and psychologist (1842-1910)
• witch doctor -  someone who is believed to heal through magical powers
• wrongdoing -  activity that transgresses moral or civil law; departure from what is ethically acceptable
• xenophanes -  Greek philosopher (560-478 BC)
• yana -  the Yanan language spoken by the Yana; a member of an extinct North American Indian people who lived in northern California
• yogi -  one who practices yoga and has achieved a high level of spiritual insight; United States baseball player (born 1925)
• yuppie -  a young upwardly mobile professional person; someone under 40 who prospered during the 1980s
• zeno of citium -  ancient Greek philosopher who founded the Stoic school (circa 335-263 BC)

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