Info --WV Introduction --3

Related Words, Beliefs, Background

Assessing Worldviews; Examining Beliefs

alphabetical listing: A to K

alphabetical listing, continued: L to Z

adopting healthy beliefs -- where the evidence for or against buying into a particular belief is not persuasive one way or the other, deciding whether to adopt the belief based on the extent to which it will promote your health and the health of the society you live in. Example: Consider whether to believe in the idea that human beings are all connected to each other in an unseen way. Whereas clearly in the three dimensional world perceived by our ordinary senses human beings are separate, unconnected entities, the possibility exists that humans could be linked in other ways: in higher spatial dimensions, in a spiritual realm, by each being connected to God, etc. Suppose after investigating pro and con evidence related to this belief you are still undecided as to its ultimate truth, but do become convinced that if in fact this were true, and everyone believed it, the world would be a better place -- or at least if you believe it your psychological health will be enhanced (you won’t feel so alone, so alienated, etc.) So you weave this belief and others into your worldview because they have psychological advantages and make you a healthier, more together person and, if others believed them, could make the world a better place -- not because you are unequivocally convinced that they are part of the ultimate, true description of Reality. Similarly you do not buy into other beliefs, not because you’re convinced they are untrue, because you see that they could potentially be unhealthy to you or to society. Example: as a young child you decide not to believe in the idea that if you behave badly that you will burn in hell because burning in hell scares you and gives you nightmares. You decide to behave (for other reasons) but not believe in hell and this choice seems healthy.

anthropology -- the study of the human species, in particular of the origin, nature, distribution, diversity, behavior and works of groups of people. This field is typically divided into physical and cultural anthropology.

attitude--a characteristic evaluative orientation and / or response tendency toward something previously experienced or encountered. The associated evaluation can be positive (like), negative (dislike), or neutral (no opinion.) Beyond this evaluation--which may or may not be directly communicated--observing the particular response allows more about the underlying attitude to be inferred. Attitudes form based on inputs from three domains: 1) cognitive (thoughts, beliefs), 2) affective (emotions, feelings), and 3) conative (volition, action tendency or disposition).

axiology -- the study of the theory of values

cosmology -- the study of the origin and structure of the universe

epistemology -- the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge, its nature, where it comes from, the methods used to obtain it, and the limits faced by humans as they attempt to broaden knowledge.

global education -- wholistic education that focuses on whole systems and emphasizes the interconnections and interdependencies that traditional, reductionist education often overlooks. It extends boundaries of concern, and strives to involve the whole person -- seen as a thinking, feeling, and doing creature.

history, philosophy of--considers such topics as what can be learned by studying history, what should be the focus of such study, what patterns can be discerned, what purpose (if any) lies behind it, the causes of events, and biases in historical records (writings of "victors" may be more propaganda than truth!)

justification of belief -- This involves 1) believing that according to some standard or by some criterion a statement is actually true, 2) having evidence or data to support the above conclusion, and 3) evaluating the certainty with which the belief is established. In this latter regard, if the evidence or data is complete and fully applicable or relevant to the standard or criterion, the belief can be accepted with certainty; if the evidence is only partially complete and / or not fully applicable or relevant, some doubt should accompany accepting the belief, if it is accepted at all. And, of course, the standard or criterion used should be subjected to similar scrutiny, or at least identified when promoting the belief

learning domains--educational activities and associated objectives are sometimes categorized using three domains: 1) cognitive--relates to comprehending and intellectual processing of information and knowledge in forming concepts, having ideas, and having beliefs; 2) affective--relates to the emotions associated with learning experiences; 3) psychomotor--relates to the physical activity and motor skills component of learning. Very loosely these learning domains can be related to thinking, feeling, and doing.

life coach – one who offers support to people who are struggling with life’s problems. It is possible to become trained and certified in this relatively new profession. The term generally refers to those who specialize in life or personal coaching, but some who offer assistance to aid those desiring career counseling, help in starting a small business or advancing an organization’s goals, etc. may also think of themselves as life coaches. Since happy and productive lives are ultimately based on healthy worldviews, if an individual is having difficulty assessing values and understanding / articulating his or her worldview, the right life coach may be of great help.

metaphysics -- a branch of philosophy that involves inquiry into the most fundamental and ultimate reality

Reality Marketplace -- an imaginary place (made real on the project Worldview website!) where important ideas, beliefs, values, and worldview themes are bought and sold, and where someone might go to find answers to life’s important questions, like: “Why am I here?”, “How does nature work?”, “How can I find God?”, “How should I live?”, etc

reason vs. faith—essentially the distinction here is between belief supported by facts and concepts, ultimately linked to observation and experience, which fit together in a coherent way as part of a useful, logical framework, and belief for which there is no such basis, but instead only one’s unshaken feeling of confidence, trust, and willingness to believe. When one’s knowledge and experience is limited, belief can be extended based on trusting the authority of someone else, rather than doing one’s own investigation into the rational basis for belief. Sometimes, there is no way to rationally or scientifically decide and anyone holding such belief holds it through faith. In this way faith can be connected with belonging. Some see faith as a valid basis for knowledge, others say it provides no such basis. Some see reason as threatening faith--meaning as one increasingly relies on it, one’s reliance on faith diminishes.

teleology -- the idea that there is a design or purpose inherent in everything and belief that events unfold toward some divinely specified ultimate end or that everything strives to fulfill some purpose

theology -- the rational study of religious faith, experience, and practice

useful fiction -- even if you mostly don’t belief in something, if believing has psychological advantages then for you this belief can be a useful fiction. This is related to the practice of adopting healthy beliefs.

worldview theme--given a formal name and description, this refers to the beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and behavior that come together in a way that is articulated in similar fashion by lots of people. Many such themes can be used to characterize a person's worldview.