nihilism

nihilism

the idea that nothing has any meaning or value

Example: Some people think that atheism leads to nihilism.

total rejection of established social and political institutions

a philosophy the rejects the idea of objective ground

Example: Is nihilism a defensible philosophy?

specious

specious

seeming to be true, but actually false

Example: Intelligent Design is a good example of a specious theory.

superficially pleasing

having deceptive attraction

dogma

dogma

a set of beliefs held by a group of people that is not open to questioning or criticism

Example: Sam Harris said that the real problem is dogma.

a priori

a priori

knowledge obtained solely by reasoning, without study or examination

Example: Is a priori knowledge possible?

heuristic

heuristic

something based on trial-and-error methods or experimentation

helping you in the process of learning

Example: A heuristic approach to the problem is too costly.

allegorical

allegorical

a representation of an abstract idea in a material form

a story or painting that teaches a moral lesson or similar idea

Example: Most allegorical stories deal with the ultimate sacrifice.