Philosophy

Definition of physicalism

With etymological origin in the German Physikalismus, physicalism is a term that refers to a theory that is part of the epistemology proposed by neopositivism. Physicalism, according to the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), aims for the human sciences to resort to the methodology of the physical sciences for their organization. A […]

Definition of semiosphere

The idea of ​​semiosphere, also mentioned as semiosphere, refers to the semiotic space in which human beings are immersed. Inside this abstract zone are all cultural phenomena and natural languages. Space of signs The Russian semiologist and linguist Yuri Lotman (1922-1993) was the one who coined the concept, […]

Definition of noosphere

The group formed by intelligent organisms and the environment in which they live is called the noosphere. The term is also accepted by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) with an accent on the second letter O: noosphere, the use of this variant being more frequent on the American continent. Vladimir Vernadsky The Russian Vladimir Vernadsky (1863–1945) […]

Definition of sui generis

Sui generis is a Latin phrase that the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) includes in its dictionary as sui generis (with an accent on the first E of the second word) and also accepts as suigéneris. The literal translation of the expression is “of its kind.” Something very peculiar A sui generis element belongs to a class […]

Definition of tabula rasa

The Latin expression tabula rasa refers to a clean board or slate; that is, without writing. The concept refers to that which lacks past facts or content. The idea of ​​tabula rasa is used by some philosophers regarding how, according to their vision, people are born: with a blank mind. This theory […]

Definition of holon

The Hungarian writer Arthur Koestler (1905-1983) coined the term holon in 1967, when he published his book “The Ghost in the Machine”. The concept, in the field of philosophy, refers to that which is simultaneously a part and a whole. A two-way flow of information A holon, therefore, is a component of something […]

Definition of nomothetic

The etymology of nomothetics takes us to the medieval Latin nomotheticus, in turn derived from the Greek nomothetikós (which can be translated as “legislative”). The term refers to the enunciation of general principles or laws that have universal validity. Nomothetic sciences The concept is usually used with respect to science whose laws are very stable. The philosopher […]

Definition of datable

Dable is an adjective that allows you to describe what is feasible. What is given, therefore, is realizable or practicable. Something feasible As you can see, it is common for the idea of ​​datable to be used to construct expressions about what can, or cannot, be given. What is doable is also doable, a very […]

Definition of hypostasis

Hypostasis comes from the late Latin hypostăsis, in turn derived from the Greek hypostasis. The first definition mentioned by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) in its dictionary refers to taking something abstract as real. From abstract to existing Hypostasis involves considering an abstract concept and attributing to it an independent existence. In other words, it grants the […]

Definition of course

The Latin word decursus, which can be translated as “current”, came to our language as a decurso. The term refers to temporal succession. Continuity of time The course, in this way, is the continuity of time. The passage of days, months and years implies a course, which is associated with the development of events, […]