MAV99

After a recent conversation with 3RU7AL, I have decided I would like to start a thread that discusses a very important aspect, not only to philosophy, but also debating as well. An aspect that I think will help clear up some various confusions that I have, at least, encountered while reading other threads.

This important aspect of course is definitions. Without definitions, a conversation can become pure semantics with each side babbling and misunderstanding each other.

And so, to help get a better idea of your understanding, my dear friends on debateart, I would like to ask, if you bother with the time, to define certain words that are very relevant to any philosophical discussion and why you think that is the/a good definition.

If you think a word does not have a definition, per se, but is rather a multi-meaning word, please explain away. I am all for analogous words.

Of course, I would prefer this thread be for peoples individual philosophical definitions and as such, I do not intend for debates to happen here, even though I am perfectly willing to bring it to an actual debate.

With that said, here is the list I would ask for from you ladies and gentlemen:

Cause

effect

Principle

Knowledge

Will (or if you think as such: free will, determined will, etc...)

Being

Real

reality

truth

goodness

true

good (If you think these go in with their abstract counterparts, fine with me. Some poeple do not think so...)

beauty

evil

nature

I understand this is not an exhaustive list. If you wish to add more words that you think are important, by all means, please add it. I would love to read it.

I also understand that it is very difficult to cram philosophy into such little spaces. I think participation in this thread will ultimately just be to simply explain better if someone has a question about your definition. THIS THREAD IS NOT FOR DEBATING DEFINITIONS. IT IS ULTIMATELY JUST TO KNOW WHAT SOMEONE THINKS A CERTAIN, VERY COMMON, PHILOSOPHICAL WORD MEANS.

With that my dear friends, answer away! I will be back in August to see what you have written.