The COHE glossary of humanist and related terms is offered as a public service to our site visitors. We hope that it will assist you with not only academic work, but also your pursuit of general knowledge about humanism, science, religion, psychology, ethics, politics, and more.

Because glossary terms are defined by the authors of COHE courses in our diverse Study Areas, some show multiple definitions depending on context within those modules. Note also the offering of synonyms (words with identical meanings) for some terms.

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law
Science and Humanism [SCH 100]

A general statement reflecting the expectation that certain patterns of events will always occur if and whenever certain conditions are met.

Law of Parsimony synonym with Occam's Razor
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

When two or more explanations (theories) account equally well for the same results, the simpler one (the one requiring the fewest causal agents) is best.

learning synonym with conditioning
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

A relatively permanent change in behavior (thinking/emotion) due to environmental experience; changing behavior because of its consequences; one of the three natural determinants which programs and reprograms the psychological repertoire.

Lemon Test
Law and Politics [LAP 100]

A judicial doctrine for assessing whether a law complies with the Establishment Clause, based on three “prongs:” (1) A secular legislative purpose; (2) Primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion; (3) No excessive government entanglement with religion.

libertarianism
Ethics [ETH 100]

The view that we are free to cause our own actions (i.e., although everything including human inclination has a cause, some of those causes are agents [selves, persons]).

life
Science and Humanism [SCH 100]

A very difficult concept to define. One way to think of it is a property of matter characterized by the processes of metabolism (transformation of raw material into energy used for growth) and reproduction.

life-stance
Religion and Spirituality [RSP 100]

The particular interpretation placed on life by an individual or a number of like-minded individuals, and the living of life accordingly.

lifestance
Humanist Studies [HUM 100]

A framework of ideas that helps us understand the world and find meaning and value in life.

literalism
Science and Humanism [SCH 100]

The idea that the Bible can be read literally, as is. Interestingly, supporters of this position often describe it as a literal "interpretation" of the Scripture, perhaps without realizing that an interpretation cannot be literal.

logical fallacy
Science and Humanism [SCH 100]

an error in logical thinking as defined by the study of logic or philosophical practice. It consists in drawing a conclusion from certain premises in a way that is unwarranted by the laws of logic.

logical positivism
Science and Humanism [SCH 100]

A philosophical school arguing that the only statements that are meaningful are those that can be validated, either mathematically or empirically.

long term memory synonym with LTM
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

The third component of human memory that permanently stores a memory in unchanged form and efficiently retrieves that memory when needed.

LTM synonym with long term memory
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

The third component of human memory that permanently stores a memory in unchanged form and efficiently retrieves that memory when needed.

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